Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) Best Practice Guidance

4.15. Where any child is found, the auditor and management must:
a. Agree it is not acceptable to dismiss them.
b. Take immediate action to remove the child form hazards.
c. Agree with management appropriate interim arrangements for the child and a commitment for
remediation.
d. Agree policies and procedures for remediation as per ETI code.
e. Immediately inform the customer and where this would breach confidentiality agreements to
encourage the supplier to initiate a discussion with their customer.
f. Capture the identity and age of the child e.g. ID number, home address, and any personnel details.
4.16. Where there are child care facilities, checks that they are staffed appropriately and safe, meeting local
laws and sufficient distance between then and the work place to ensure that the children are not
exposed to hazards or able to enter the workplace.
Worker Interviews - to corroborate workplace practices
Auditor seeks to confirm documents and management interview by worker testimony. Discrepancies
should be noted, taking care to protect the anonymity of workers.
Note: Workers who look particularly young should be prioritized for interview. It is important to err on the side of
caution and assume that a young looking worker is a child until verifiable evidence to the contrary is provided.
This may involve reviewing age documents of the child and verifying they are genuine (it is good practice to ask
their date of birth rather than their age).
4.17. Ask whether there are children working on the site.
4.18. Check whether young workers (up to 18 yrs.) are engaged in hazardous, night or overtime work or
work that would interfere with the necessary legal education.
4.19. Whether any young workers interviewed are comfortable with their employment conditions.
4.20. Whether young workers employment conditions meet the local and international requirements.
4.21. Checks whether workers are satisfied with any child care facilities.
SMETA Best Practice Guidance (4-Pillar Version 4.0, May 2012)
4.22. Are workers clear on the site’s policy towards the employment of children and young workers?
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