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Write An Article About Social Audits and Child Labour

Social audits aim to identify instances of child labor by assessing policies, practices, and working conditions in supply chains. However, social audits have limitations like short durations, conflicts of interest, and lack of transparency. To address this, companies should employ multiple auditing methods and ensure processes are robust and improve transparency.

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120 views2 pages

Write An Article About Social Audits and Child Labour

Social audits aim to identify instances of child labor by assessing policies, practices, and working conditions in supply chains. However, social audits have limitations like short durations, conflicts of interest, and lack of transparency. To address this, companies should employ multiple auditing methods and ensure processes are robust and improve transparency.

Uploaded by

Samra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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write an article about social audits and child labour

Social audits are a critical tool for identifying and addressing instances of child labor in supply
chains. However, recent reports have highlighted the challenges associated with social audits,
particularly in the context of labor rights abuses in global supply chains[2].

One of the key issues with social audits is the pressure to drive down costs, which often results
in limited time allocated for audits. This undercuts auditors' ability to interview workers, follow
information leads, and corroborate information[2]. A 2021 study analyzing 21,041 social audit
reports between 2011 and 2017 across different sectors revealed that the low number of
findings could be due to the limitations of audits spanning a few days[2].

Conflicts of interest between the auditing firm and their paying client can also cloud the social
auditing process. Auditors have reported being asked to delete findings or transmit more serious
findings orally or separately in emails, rather than in the social audit report itself[4]. Additionally,
suppliers may attempt to hide actual working conditions during audits, particularly when
advance notice of an audit is provided[4].

The social audits and certification industry is largely opaque, with social audit reports about
suppliers not being made public. This lack of transparency fails to build trust with relevant
stakeholders, especially workers, or to enable local unions and workers' rights organizations to
monitor progress of corrective actions[4].

To overcome these challenges, companies can employ a combination of internal auditing, buyer
auditing, external auditing, and monitoring led by trade unions and managers[3]. Internal
auditing involves the company inspecting itself, while buyer auditing involves a buyer inspecting
its suppliers. External auditing involves an external organization inspecting the company's
worksites or those of its suppliers, with the audit being more trustworthy if the organization has a
good reputation and has received full training on child labor[3]. Monitoring led by trade unions
and managers involves people in the workplace keeping a daily watch on the situation,
effectively preventing child labor from happening and identifying any cases that do occur[3].

In conclusion, while social audits are an important tool for identifying and addressing child labor
in supply chains, they are not without their challenges. Companies must be aware of these
challenges and take steps to ensure that their auditing processes are robust, transparent, and
effective in detecting and addressing instances of child labor.

Citations:
[1] Auditing for Child Labor Guide https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/comply-chain/steps-to-a-
social-compliance-system/step-5-monitor-compliance/key-topic-auditing-for-child-labor-guide
[2] “Obsessed with Audit Tools, Missing the Goal”: Why Social Audits Can't ...
https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/11/15/obsessed-audit-tools-missing-goal/why-social-audits-
cant-fix-labor-rights-abuses
[3] [PDF] Eliminating and Preventing Child Labour
https://www.dev.ilo.org/media/434531/download
[4] Social Audits No Cure for Retail Supply Chain Labor Abuse
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/15/social-audits-no-cure-retail-supply-chain-labor-abuse
[5] USA: Private auditors fail to detect child labour in supply chains of ... https://www.business-
humanrights.org/en/latest-news/usa-private-auditors-fail-to-detect-child-labour-in-the-food-
supply-chains-of-major-us-companies-incl-cos-responses-non-responses/
what is social auditing and how does it work

Social auditing is a process that involves measuring, understanding, reporting, and improving an
organization's social and ethical performance. It aims to narrow gaps between vision and reality,
efficiency and effectiveness, and enhance local governance by promoting transparency and
accountability[2]. Social audits focus on various aspects such as working conditions,
occupational safety, human rights, environmental protection, and compliance with anti-
corruption measures[3][4].

The process typically includes assessing policies, practices, and performance related to labor
practices, community involvement, and environmental impact. External auditors are usually
hired to conduct social audits to ensure independence and objectivity in evaluating an
organization's social responsibilities[5]. Different types of social audits exist, including financial,
environmental, labor, governance, and community audits. While social audits are optional in
many countries, some jurisdictions mandate organizations to conduct them to meet legal
requirements[5].

Overall, social audits play a crucial role in ensuring fair and safe working conditions for all
stakeholders involved in the supply chain while enhancing transparency, compliance with ethical
standards, and maintaining a positive brand image aligned with societal values[4].

Citations:
[1] Social Auditing - SpringerLink https://link.springer.com/10.1007%2F978-3-642-28036-8_250
[2] 4. Training module on social audit https://www.fao.org/3/ad346e/ad346e09.htm
[3] DQS - Social audits https://www.dqsglobal.com/gb-en/certify/social-audits
[4] Social Audits: Are You Covering Your Bases? - QIMA
https://blog.qima.es/ethical-audit/social-audits-are-you-covering-your-bases
[5] Social Audit (Meaning, Examples | Objectives & Imporatnce
https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/social-audit/

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