When consumers buy a shirt, a pair of shoes, or a bag of coffee, they rarely ask who helped produce it. Yet behind many products sold around the world, child labour can remain hidden within complex global supply chains.
For decades, efforts to combat child labour focused mainly on punishing employers who directly hired children. While important, this approach often overlooked a larger reality: products are usually made through networks of suppliers, subcontractors, and producers that stretch across multiple countries. As a result, companies benefiting from these supply chains could claim they were unaware of labour abuses occurring far from their headquarters.
Recent research examines how the European Union (EU) is attempting to change this situation through a new legal approach. Rather than waiting for violations to occur, recent EU regulations require large companies to identify, prevent, and address human rights risks, including child labour, throughout their supply chains.
This represents an important shift in responsibility. Under the new approach, companies are expected to examine where their raw materials come from, how products are manufactured, and whether children are being exploited at any stage of production. Businesses can no longer focus only on their direct operations; they must pay attention to the broader network that supports their commercial activities.
The significance of this change extends far beyond Europe. Countries that participate in global trade increasingly face expectations to ensure that exported products are free from child labour. For developing economies such as Vietnam, which are deeply integrated into international supply chains through trade agreements and export industries, these developments create both challenges and opportunities.
Vietnam has made considerable progress in aligning its legal framework with international labour standards. However, further efforts are needed to strengthen supply chain transparency, improve labour inspection systems, and encourage greater corporate responsibility. These measures can help prevent child labour before it occurs rather than responding only after harm has already been done.
Child labour is often viewed as a local social problem. In reality, it is also a global economic issue. The products we consume connect farmers, workers, businesses, and consumers across continents. Ensuring that children are protected within these networks requires shared responsibility.
As the world marks the World Day Against Child Labour, an important question remains: not only who employed the child, but who had the power to prevent it. The answer may help shape a fairer and more responsible global economy.
Nguyen Thanh-Quang is a Lecturer at the Faculty of State and Law, Dong Thap Provincial Political School, Vietnam, and a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Economic Law, University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM). His research interests include labour law, human rights, international trade and sustainable development, with a particular focus on child labour governance in global supply chains. His recent publications explore the interaction between international labour standards, free trade agreements, and corporate due diligence regulations, especially within the European Union framework. He is also interested in the social and legal dimensions of labour protection in developing countries and the implementation of international labour commitments in Vietnam.