<p><a href="https://opendemocracy.net/author/neil-howard">Neil Howard</a> is an academic activist and Fellow at the Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp.</p>
The development community wants to help child workers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, but unless it rethinks its programming it could cause harm itself.
A lot of work remains to be done in order to end forced labour. Thankfully, organisers and advocates around the globe are pioneering promising solutions. It's time to follow their lead.
Forced labour is illegal and its risks are widely documented. Yet so many companies continue to use irresponsible sourcing practices – established triggers of forced labour. Why is this the case?
Border restrictions are often justified as measures to protect migrants from "trafficking", but borders actually increase migrants' vulnerability to forced labour and labour exploitation.
