FAO Urges Agriculture Cos. To Combat Child Labor

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has published a guide encouraging agricultural companies to enact child-­labor policies to combat abuse in the industry. The guide offers “practical steps to ensure that programmes contribute to safe employment and training opportunities for youth and that activities intended to support vulnerable families do not have the unintended consequence of encouraging child labour,” according to a June 12, 2017, press release.

“The agriculture sector holds great potential before, during and after crises, to save lives and contribute to livelihoods, support rural households, provide decent employment and alternatives to child labour, including its worst forms,” FAO Assistant Director-General Kostas Stamoulis was quoted as saying.

Issue 638