Policy
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ECLT Pledge of Commitment
Consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, our Pledge is a framework for members to align, reinforce and, where necessary, expand current policies and practices in addressing child labour in tobacco-growing.
The Pledge of Commitment responds to the understanding that tobacco-growing worldwide will not be free of child labour until the industry can work together effectively at all levels – manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and farmers. It is a sector-wide agreement to uphold robust policy on child labour, conduct due diligence and provide for remediation.
The ECLT Foundation's Pledge and the road ahead
In a world where corporate responsibility to respect human rights is under unprecedented scrutiny, this report Ten Years On: Reflecting on the ECLT Foundation Pledge and Defining the Road Ahead marks a significant milestone for thought leadership, collective action and transparency in the agricultural sector.
This report shows that the tobacco industry has made great strides in eliminating child labour in tobacco-growing communities. First, it takes stock of the first decade of implementation of UNGPs to address child labour in the tobacco industry; second, based on the outcomes of the assessment exercise, the report presents a data-driven roadmap for the next chapter of the UNGPs implementation in the industry and in agriculture.
Download the 2014 ECLT Pledge of Commitment
Signed in 2014 by its contributing companies, the ECLT Pledge of Commitment to work collaboratively with the relevant local, national, regional and international stakeholders to progressively eliminate all forms of child labour within tobacco-sourcing supply chains.
Realising the Pledge
A baseline for action
Progress has been made in taking stock of each company’s situation and efforts to combat child labour in their tobacco-sourcing supply chains. In 2015 and 2018, members completed a self-assessment questionnaire to develop individual, time-bound actions plans to fill in any gaps.
These Self-Assessment Dashboards, which are based on the company self assessments, provide a baseline that members are using to develop action plans and show progress towards realising the ECLT Pledge of Commitment.
A self-assessment tool for businesses
This self-assessment tool provides a base for companies to examine their child labour policies and practices. adapted to both corporate and field contexts, the self assessment is based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the ECLT Members’ Pledge of Commitment.
Click on the sections to the right to explore the questions and the supporting guidelines from the UNGPs and ECLT Pledge. Using these questions as a framework, companies can take a comprehensive look at current policies and practices and identify gaps where action must be taken.
Latest news about the Pledge
Multi-stakeholder action and collaboration produce sustainable solutions against child labour. Working with partners at the international, national and local levels is key to systemic change.
01.04.2019 Progressively realising commitments against child labour
In 2018, the Members of the ECLT Pledge of Commitment completed a second self-assessment on the progress made in their supply chains in the fight against child labour.
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23.11.2017 Ensuring rights and standards on farms
On 15th November 2017, Human Rights Watch (HRW) published an article highlighting the Sustainable Tobacco Program (STP), an industry-wide standard which, among other things, prohibits all children under 18 from handling green tobacco on farms.
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09.12.2016 Baseline for Action against Child Labour in Tobacco-Growing - ECLT Pledge 2nd Anniversary!
Human Rights Day marks the 2nd anniversary of the signing of the ECLT Pledge of Commitment and Minimum Standards by 13 companies, which make up a significant portion of the tobacco-growing supply chain, as well as the International Tobacco Growers' Association and the ECLT Foundation.