How Can Modern Slavery Training Help Fight The Worst Forms Of Child Labour

 

The definition of modern slavery includes more than one form of human exploitation. Women, children, migrants, refugees, and people working with inadequate legal protection are at high risk. Children are often the easy targets as they can hardly fight back or confront their oppressors. Also, children are rarely aware of the laws and protection against modern slavery.

Supply chains in many industries wrongfully practice child labour. Every organisation must ensure there are no children involved in slavery within their operations or supply chains. One way to achieve this is by implementing modern slavery awareness training. Let us discuss the worst forms of child labour and how training can help prevent them.

What are the worst forms of child labour?

The worst forms of child labour include situations where children, under the age of 18, are exploited physically or involved in activities that limit their freedom, right to education, and growth. Some of these situations are when children:

• Are trafficked or forced into servitude, debt bondage, or labour
• Are exploited sexually through child prostitution or production of pornography
• Are involved in the production or trafficking of drugs
• Are engaged in work that will likely harm their health, safety, or morals
• Are made to work in hazardous environments or industries such as mining, quarrying, and construction.

How can modern slavery training help fight the worst forms of child labour

Effective elimination and prevention of the worst forms of child labour require immediate and comprehensive action.

1. Empowering learners

Knowledge and awareness are the best weapons to have when fighting against child labour. Employees need to be aware of the actions they can take and the procedure to be followed when faced with such issues in their organisation or supply chain. Modern slavery training provides employees with this knowledge and thus empowers them. They can then stay vigilant in their areas of work and raise issues when required.

2. Faster identification

Modern slavery awareness training can help your employees understand and identify behaviours and practices that are child labour. Without training, these practices are not always easily identified and will continue.

3. Increased reporting

One of the most empowering pieces of information that can be relayed through modern slavery training is the procedure for reporting such incidents. Training employees on modern slavery incidents and how and whom to report incidents can help put an end to child labour within your organisation or supply chain.

4. Better support

Taking an effective approach and contacting the right authorities when reporting the worst forms of child labour can achieve positive results. Unawareness or misinformation can lead to gaps in reporting and resolving modern slavery cases. Modern slavery training educates employees on what to do and who to report incidents of child labour. When employees or volunteers reach out to the right authorities to report incidences of child labour, better support can be expected from the authorities.

Conclusion

Promoting child labour in any form is a punishable crime. Child labour in its worst forms can be devastating and many children may not even live to see the future. To stop any form of modern slavery, organisations across Australia must foster a safe workplace that does not include child labour. Providing modern slavery training is one of the best ways to enhance awareness.

If you are looking for modern slavery training to stop the worst forms of child labour in your workplace, contact Sentrient today. Our 15-minute online learning course will help your employees know how to identify and report such incidents.

This blog post was originally published here.