Adverse Childhood Experiences

A Case Study On IKEA Child Labor Abolition Initiative

IKEA Group had committed itself to fight child labor among its operations and its supply chain. It had engaged with various international bodies that were working to end the child’s right violation and had put in place mechanisms to counter the vice (Hower, 2014). When Marianne Barner got information about one of its leading supplier of rugs from India is engaged in child labor, she was perplexed. She saw it a setback to all the steps the company had made to counter child labor among its supply chain. Also, it was a violation of the addendum contract its suppliers had signed not to engage children among their workforce. She had to decide on what to do in the wake of such revelation and the steps IKEA had taken to counter the vice. Measures like the Rugmark Initiative, which was under her consideration to sign into, was working towards ending child labor and would make a grand statement in the fight. Therefore, hiring the Rugmark initiative would be a great statement in showing its commitment to countering the vice instead of revising its supply contracts.

The Rugmark Initiative formed through the partnership of Indian manufacturers, importers, retailers, and non-government organizations would provide a long-term and effective way of ensuring child labor was not utilized in making of rugs. Moreover, the initiative being Indian based would be easy to monitor and implement. Also, it would be a great response to the Swedish Save the Children Organization, who wanted IKEA to find a solution to the child labor vice with the children’s best interests at heart. (administrator, 2018)

Furthermore, considering the company’s culture and beliefs as put in place by its founder, Mr. Ingvar Kampad, who believed in honest relations with suppliers, the Indian supplier had violated that integrity principle by utilizing child labor even after agreeing on no to do so. Therefore, adopting the revised supply contract would be setting aside the company’s believes and a significant setback to the commitment against child labor.

Additionally, the company was working with international bodies such as the UN and UNICEF to find a long-lasting solution to the problem. Therefore, IKEA was working to find the root cause of child labor in its operational countries and hence find a better, long-lasting, and effective way to end the vice. When it encountered the problem of hazardous emissions that were causing health problems to people, the company worked with international bodies like World Wide Fund for Nature [WWF] to reduce the emission from the glue used to attach the wood it was using for its furniture (administrator, 2018). Also, it used standards from the Forest Stewardship Council to set up policies that ensured it would not accept any wood from natural forests or trees with a high value of conservation. The policies worked for the company since it managed to reduce the emission to an acceptable quantity.

Considering the success of these previous initiatives, IKEA engagement with international bodies and its commitment to end child labor would surely yield results for the company in the long run. Although some of this cultures of child labor in countries like India and Pakistan, who are the main suppliers of rags for the company are deeply rooted, its abolition is not impossible especially with abolition of practices like the Bonded Labor System where children are used to helping parents repay loans forwarded to parents by working in this companies.

In conclusion, the Rugmark Initiative would be a great way to reduce and eventually end the practice of child labor in countries like India. By engaging in such initiatives, IKEA would show its commitment to the vice. Also, it should take a strong stand against suppliers who violate the contractual agreement and cancel the contract of the Indian supplier. Although this would negatively affect its supply channels and cause losses, it would have shown its goodwill to ending child labor and also propel it forward in its dedication against the vice.

References

administrator. (2018, 12 18). Free Essay Examples Databases. Retrieved from Free Essay Examples Databases: https://www.greenontheinside.net/ikea-case-essay-example/

Hower, M. (2014, JUNE, 25). SB. Retrieved from SB: https://sustainablebrands.com/read/supply-chain/ikea-expands-program-to-prevent-child-labor-in-india-s-cotton-fields