Criterion: Child Labor

Version 1.0.0 | Status: Active
UN conformity topic code:

Policy prohibiting child labor in alignment with ILO C138 and C182, verification mechanisms, action plans for young workers, immediate remediation upon identification, and grievance mechanisms.

Full Description

SHR05 Child Labor

Standard Section: 9.5 Category: Social Human Rights Scheme: Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Standard Version: 2.0 for Piloting (effective April 30, 2025)


Overview

Policy prohibiting child labor in alignment with ILO C138 and C182, verification mechanisms, action plans for young workers, immediate remediation upon identification, and grievance mechanisms.


Requirements

The Facility shall:

  • 9.5.1 Establish a documented policy that includes a commitment to prohibit child labor in alignment with International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions C138 and C182.
  • 9.5.2 Establish mechanisms and maintain records to verify that children under the age of 15 are not employed at the Facility, unless the exceptions recognized by the ILO apply, and prevent young workers under the age of 18 from the exposure to hazardous work.
  • 9.5.3 Develop and implement action plans to prevent and mitigate identified risks of child labor. The action plan shall include measures to:
    • 9.5.3.1 Ensure young workers comply with compulsory education laws;
    • 9.5.3.2 Restrict work hours to those outside of school hours and provide for adequate financial and other support to enable young workers to attend and remain in school;
    • 9.5.3.3 Train young workers on how to use the grievance mechanism; and
    • 9.5.3.4 Prohibit young workers from working during night hours and from exceeding 8 hours a day of work.
  • 9.5.4 In the event the Facility identifies an occurrence of child labor within its direct organization, the Facility shall take immediate action to remediate the situation which shall involve the immediate removal of the child from work.
  • 9.5.5 Establish a documented procedure to provide for or participate in remedy in the event of a child labor incident within its direct operations or those of its suppliers and contractors that includes measures for incident investigation, criteria for assessing the child's situation to determine appropriate remediation actions, measures to protect the welfare of the child, and measures to provide adequate financial and other resources to rehabilitate the child.
  • 9.5.6 Implement or participate in a grievance mechanism to alert management to the concerns or incidence of child labor in alignment with Section 6.7.

Source: RMI Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks, Version 2.0 for Piloting (April 2025), Section 9.5

Profiles using this criterion

Responsible Minerals Assurance Process

Conformity Alignment

Meets

Pass: Yes
Definition: "Facility has a documented policy prohibiting child labor (aligned with ILO C138 and C182), maintains records and mechanisms verifying that no children under 15 are employed, prevents workers under 18 from hazardous work, overtime, or night shifts, implements action plans ensuring young workers comply with education laws and do not exceed work hour limits, and has documented procedures for remedy in the event of a child labor incident."

Partially Meets

Pass: No
Definition: "Child labor prohibition is in place but not fully implemented: e.g., policy exists but age verification records are incomplete, young workers are employed but not systematically protected from all hazardous tasks or overtime, or the facility has no documented procedure for remediation in the event of a child labor incident."
Remediation: 180 days

Does Not Meet

Pass: No
Definition: "No documented policy prohibiting child labor, no age verification mechanism, no records demonstrating absence of child labor, or young workers are not protected from hazardous work."
Remediation: 90 days

Priority

Pass: No
Definition: "A Priority finding is raised for: employment of workers younger than 15 years old (or the legal minimum age) directly or through agencies and contractors; or workers younger than 18 who are subjected to hazardous work, overtime, or night shifts."
Remediation: 30 days

Not Applicable

Pass: Yes
Definition: "This criterion is not applicable to any facility - all facilities with workers must prohibit child labor and protect young workers."

Not Able To Assess

Pass: No
Definition: "The assessor was unable to access age verification records, employment records for young workers, or interview workers to verify the absence of child labor."

Change Log

1.0.0 (2026-06-24)

Initial release.