Linking child labour with international trade: recent developments and their implications

Abstract

In recent years, child labour has become increasingly linked to important global economic forces such as international trade. In the context of unilateral, regional, and multilateral trade policies, there have been discussions about subjecting products made with child labour to trade penalties and sanctions. These proposals have generated much controversy and concern. This paper aims at providing a comprehensive understanding of recent developments in the trade and child labour linkage within the broader framework of the labour standards and trade debate. It also assesses the validity and effectiveness of using trade-related measures to address the problem of child labour by presenting the arguments for and against this linkage and by analysing the available evidence in this regard.