World Day Against Child Labour: Turning Compliance Into Child Protection With SMETA

Each year on June 12, the world observes World Day Against Child labour, a moment to reflect on the progress made, and the urgent work still ahead, in eliminating child labour globally. According to the 2024 global estimates released by the ILO and UNICEF, 160 million children are still engaged in child labour, with over 1 in 5 affected in the world’s poorest countries and more than 1 in 4 in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite earlier progress, the global fight has stalled, particularly in agriculture, where most children aged 5–14 in child labour are employed.

At NSF, we recognise that social compliance audits are more than checklists, they are tools for transformation. That’s why we are proud to be a SEDEX-approved audit company conducting SMETA (SEDEX members ethical trade audit) audits, which directly identify cases of child labour risks in global supply chains.

SMETA audits are grounded in the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code, which is based on ILO conventions. The audits assess compliance with labour standards, including:

• No use of child labour, protecting young workers at the workplace
• Fair wages and working hours
• Safe and healthy working conditions
• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining

With the launch of SMETA 7.0, the methodology now includes workplace requirements, a structured framework that breaks the ETI base code into auditable elements. This ensures that child labour risks are not only identified but also documented with clear evidence. The new methodology also ensures that there are preventative measures in place with a robust management system at the workplace.

For companies in the food supply chain, especially those sourcing from high-risk regions, SMETA audits offer a credible, globally recognised way to demonstrate ethical sourcing. They also support compliance with ESG frameworks and buyer expectations.

As we mark World Day Against Child labour, we reaffirm our commitment to helping clients build transparent, responsible supply chains that protect the rights of every worker, especially the youngest and most vulnerable.