Rationale 3.3

All children have the right to be protected from work that is dangerous or harmful to their health, development or education.6969International Labour Organization (ILO). (1999). Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). Geneva, Switzerland: ILO. 7070International Labour Organization (ILO). (1973). Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138). Geneva, Switzerland: ILO. Employment and exploitation of children and young workers occurs globally across many sectors and is driven by economic and cultural pressures on the poorest, most vulnerable people.7171International Labour Office and United Nations Children’s Fund. (2021). Child labour: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward. New York, USA: ILO and UNICEF. However, limited and non-harmful forms of participation in the workforce can contribute to a child’s development in some contexts, providing them with skills for their adult life and supporting the welfare of their families.

More than two-thirds of global child labour is attributed to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture, making it a priority issue to address.7272FAO (2021) Tackling child labour in fisheries and aquaculture. Background Paper. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7159en 

This Criterion focuses on the prevention of child labour and the provision of safe working conditions for young employees on ASC-certified farms. Rather than disengaging from any abuses identified, as part of ASC’s approach to respect human rights and work on improvements in aquaculture, this Criterion requires that effective remediation is conducted.

 Intent – The aquaculture industry does not engage in the use of child labour and provides effective remediation for affected individuals.