The Child Rights Action Hub’s Child Rights Changemakers – Recognising Commitment and Actions

Child labour is an ongoing challenge in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, particularly in the informal and lower tiers of supply chains. Traditional, stand-alone initiatives have had limited impact in tackling these risks at scale. That’s why The Centre’s Child Rights Action Hub Bangladesh was created: to promote collaborative, joint solutions that maximise brands’ and retailers’ collective leverage and impact.

A key feature of the Action Hub is the Child Rights Changemaker Programme, a pathway for suppliers and factories to be recognised for their leadership in strengthening child rights and preventing or remediating child labour.

From Supporter to Changemaker

The programme is built on a three-tier recognition system:

• Supporter – exploring ways to strengthen child rights and tackle child labour.

• Initiator – launching concrete initiatives to support children at risk.

• Changemaker – proactively implementing initiatives that deliver tangible results and lasting impact.

Becoming a Changemaker involves a six-step journey, from taking an initial opportunity assessment and designing an initiative with Action Hub guidance, through to implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement.

Examples of Child Rights Initiatives

Suppliers aiming for Changemaker status take on initiatives that create real benefits for children and young people, such as:

• Paid training programmes for at-risk youth of working age

• After-school support to help children succeed in education

• Safe employment opportunities that are age-appropriate and non-hazardous

• Collaboration with subcontractors to ensure safe conditions for young workers

• Referral mechanisms to report child labour cases to the Action Hub

• Strengthening business partnerships by adjusting lead times, pricing and practices to reduce child labour risks in high-risk, informal tiers

For recognition, initiatives must:

• Directly benefit children at risk or in child labour

• Create sustainable, long-term change

• Harness the company’s influence, leverage and business practices

Recognising Changemakers

The Action Hub acknowledges factories that demonstrate real commitment. So far, three factories in Bangladesh have been recognised:

• Millennium Textiles (Southern) Ltd. earned the Child Rights Initiator Award for introducing training for parents, a needs assessment, and an educational support programme.

• Ayesha Clothing Company Ltd. for training all parent workers with children under 12, for conducting regular needs assessments to evaluate whether the children of factory workers are at risk and for expanding their educational support programme.

• Karupannya Rangpur Ltd. achieved Changemaker status for its AD-Y programme, offering training, mentoring and safe employment opportunities for young workers. All in all, 42 vulnerable youth were given jobs in non-hazardous positions, of whom 36 stayed on as permanent employees after the programme. They also developed a buddy system and delivered 463 hours of technical and soft skills training. 

Join the Movement

The Changemaker Programme is more than recognition; it’s about building a stronger, fairer RMG sector where children are protected, and businesses thrive with support and guidance.

We look forward to more brands and suppliers embarking on this journey with us. Contact us to learn more.

Watch a video about Karupannya's AD-Y programme: