You check for child and forced labour by verifying worker identity and age from original documents, examining how workers were recruited and whether they paid fees or owe money, inspecting any hostels, confirming that workers hold their own documents, and visiting without notice. No single step is decisive; it is the combination, repeated over time, that gives assurance. Most established Indian garment exporters have no children on the main floor, so the risk sits in subcontracted units, in homeworking, and in how migrant and contract workers are recruited.
The checks that matter
- Identity verification: original government identity documents for a sample of workers, with the photograph matched to the person and the date of birth checked. Include the youngest-looking workers in the sample, not a random list from the office.
- Age checks at hiring: a documented process for proving age at recruitment, with copies retained on file, and a clear rule on young workers where state law permits them with restrictions.
- Recruitment fees: ask workers, not managers, whether they paid an agent or contractor to get the job and whether wages are deducted to repay it. Fees paid by workers are a recognised forced labour indicator under ILO guidance.
- Document retention: workers should hold their own identity cards, certificates and bank cards. A factory or contractor keeping them is a red flag whatever the explanation.
- Hostel conditions: if workers live in factory accommodation, visit it. Check whether they can leave freely, whether there is a curfew, who holds the keys, and what is deducted from pay for rent and food.
- Freedom of movement: exits unlocked, nobody stopped from leaving at the end of a shift, no deposits held against resignation.
- Unannounced visits: arrive at shift change and during peak season. Child workers are most easily hidden when an auditor is expected.
Look beyond the main floor
Embroidery, hand work, washing, printing and finishing are often subcontracted, and the risk is higher in those smaller units. Ask where each process on your order is done and visit it. Hand embroidery and beading are frequently done in homes, where children can be involved, so if your styles carry hand work you need to know how that chain is managed.
In India a large share of factory labour is supplied through contractors. The contractor's practices on fees, documents and wages are what you must check, because the factory's own personnel file will look clean even when the contractor's does not.
If you find something
Removal without a plan can leave a child worse off, so agree a remediation approach with the factory that covers schooling or safe alternative work and confirms the child's age properly. For forced labour indicators, require repayment of fees and return of documents, with a date and verification. Set these expectations out in writing before the first order so there is no argument later.
How we handle it
We visit factories, hostels and subcontractors in person, interview workers away from management, and check identity documents and contractor records ourselves. Unannounced inline visits are part of every programme we run, and we report what we find in the weekly update. We keep one approved supplier plus one backup so you are never locked into a unit that fails. Book a free 20-minute sourcing review if you want to talk through your current suppliers.