The Apparel Industry and Codes of Conduct: A Solution to the International Child Labor Problems?

A recent development, corporate codes of conduct and other business guidelines prohibiting the use of child labor are becoming more common, as consumers as
well as religious, labor and human rights groups are increasingly calling upon companies to take responsibility for the conditions under which the goods they sell are
being manufactured. Many U.S. companies that import apparel have adopted codes
of conduct that prohibit the use of child labor and promote other labor standards.
For purposes of this report, the term “codes of conduct” is used generically to refer
to various types of corporate policies and standards on child labor and other working conditions. These instruments take different forms — codes of conduct, statements of company policy in the form of letters to suppliers, provisions in purchase
orders or letters of credit, and/or compliance certificates.