LAKSHMI GREEN SHIP RECYCLERS LLP
DOES NOT EMPLOY OR SUPPORT ANY CHILD LABOUR
Minimum Age for working is 18 years.
In order to follow strictly Child Labour Policy the following points are checked:
- Verify age by checking age proof records such as: Birth Certificate, School leaving Certificate, any recognized Government authority issued certificate if none is available then Dentist Certificate is allowed.
Operational Procedures for Remediation of Child Labour in Industrial Contexts.
Child labour is a complex and growing problem across global supply chains. Successful remediation is not easy to achieve and requires a holistic, multistakeholder approach. In every case, the interests of the child need to come first.
This document sets out operational procedures of Lakshmi Green Ship Recyclers LLP on how to deal with instances of child labour in the industrial context
These principles apply to ALL children in all work situations regardless of their employment status or length of service. This includes permanent, temporary, or casual labour, whether directly or indirectly employed by the management of the workplace.
If child labour is found, it is vital to act quickly.
If you suspect that workers in a factory may be underage, do not approach the workers directly in the First instance, but check their ID as part of
a routine document check process without raising the alarm.
If document checks confirm the child is underage or if ID checks are inconclusive, you should take the following action:
Remove the child from all work immediately. Preventing the continuation of work gives a clear message to factory managers. It also reduces the risk that managers may try to continue to use child workers under the guise of bogus 'training centres' or 'apprenticeship schemes'. You should err on the side of caution and assume that a young-looking worker is under-age until verifiable evidence to the contrary is provided.
Ensure the child is in a safe place.
Obtain contact details (ideally mobile phone number) of child and parents/guardian, and wherever possible, home address.
Clarify the true identity and age of the child. Review age documents of the child and verify that they are genuine. If the documentary evidence is inconclusive checking the age of the child may entail.
Communication or meeting with parents and guardians of children.
Contacting local labour authorities to validate identification.
Medical checks to assess age
Talk to the child to ensure they understand what is happening and why. Listen to them to understand their needs. Explain the possible remediation options and other measures to be put in place. Ensure they agree to participate in the remediation programme. It is important in your contact with children to be aware of situations which may present risks and manage these.
Meet with top production site management to communicate the policies and basic positions regarding child labour and obtain their consensus on the interim arrangement for the child and their commitment for remediation.
Provide free food and free and safe accommodation to the child until a remediation programme is operational (this can be a relatively lengthy process). In some cases, particularly for children who have migrated for work, either with or without their families, the best interim solution may be to continue to stay in the factory dormitory (if dormitory accommodation is provided); however, this is never a desirable long-term solution.
Arrange payment of a stipend to the child both during the exploratory phase and throughout the whole remediation programme. The stipend should be equivalent to the amount the child was earning whilst employed, or at least local minimum wage standard, whichever is higher. The stipend should be paid in weekly or monthly, rather than as a lump sum.
The company shall arrange for the education of the child in case the parents are not financially capable to do so.
Contact the parents/guardians to ensure that they understand and agree with what is happening and to explain the ongoing provision of stipend, food, and accommodation. If necessary, educate the parents about the benefits of schooling/vocational training. With younger children, the strong involvement of parents/guardians is particularly important. In cases where parents have sent their child to work, this process of persuasion may be difficult and it is particularly important to ensure that parents are confident that the family's income will not be reduced by participating in child labour remediation.
Review all the personnel records at the workplace to identify whether there are any other child workers.
Give advice on improving age verification systems to ensure that no new child worker is hired. These could include (but not exclusively):
Policy on minimum age requirements and all workers to show proof of ID
