ILO
International Labour Organization
Topic A: Eliminating Child Labor in Global Supply Chain
Modern supply chains connect farms, mines, factories, shipping networks, and retailers across numerous countries, making it difficult to identify where child labor enters the production process. Children may work illegally in agriculture, mining, textiles, construction, domestic service, or informal workshops due to childhood poverty, family debt, displacement, limited access to education, or weak enforcement of labor laws. Although some forms of age-appropriate work are permitted, the hazardous labor which often characterizes this vulnerable population can cause lasting physical and psychological harm. Multinational companies may prohibit child labor among their direct suppliers yet remain unaware of abuses committed by subcontractors or informal producers further down the chain. Demands for increasingly inexpensive products and rising costs of raw materials place pressure on suppliers to cut prices by seeking cheaper labor, perpetuating a system of child exploitation. This committee will address how a fractured global production system can distribute the responsibility for these abuses across multiple levels of manufacturing, as well as the difficulties governments, workers, and companies face when attempting to monitor workplaces, verify product origins, and punish offending parties.
Topic B: Protecting Migrant Workers from Exploitation in Foreign Labor Markets
Migrant workers are individuals who cross country borders in search of higher wages, safer working conditions, or job opportunities unavailable in their home countries. However, their strong dependence on employers for fiscal support and visa sponsorship leaves them especially vulnerable to exploitation. Common abusive employer tactics to maintain worker compliance include withholding wages, confiscating passports, and threatening deportation. Some workers enter these countries via temporary visa systems that tie their legal status to a single employer, making it difficult to report mistreatment or leave an abusive workplace. Undocumented migrants, women, and domestic workers face even greater risks. Laws vary considerably depending on the country, making regulation complex. This topic will focus on how to improve recruitment systems, immigration policies, and the enforcement of labor laws to better the experiences of migrant workers in foreign labor markets.