Child labour prevalence rates Our data shows that the longer cooperatives partner with Tony’s Open Chain and implement the CLMRS, the lower the prevalence of child labour. Among our longest-term partner cooperatives (those in their second MoU or beyond) the average prevalence rate is just 4%, compared to 13% for newer partners in their first MoU or Initial Collaboration Agreement. Importantly, even this 13% rate among newer partners is already well below the industry average of 46.7%. This group includes cooperatives at varying stages of development, some in their first year, others nearing the end of a five-year MoU. It takes time to roll out the system and train teams, and while newer partner cooperatives have met their targets by visiting all households, they are still building the capacity to identify every case. This means that the highest number of cases is typically detected a couple of years into the implementation of the CLMRS, as staff become more experienced and confident in recognising child labour situations. Adapting to a new system requires patience and persistence, and although the initial start is strong, the process of gaining trust within communities and refining detection takes time. We anticipate that achieving lasting impact on the ground and having full confidence in the data requires decade-long commitments. Fluctuations in prevalence rates year-on-year can be attributed to a variety of factors, including improved household coverage and evolving household realities. For example, 5 of our longest-term partner cooperatives increased their reach from 70% in 2023/24 to 82% by July 2025, leading to more cases being identified. Additionally, farmers’ family circumstances can shift year-on-year – such as through deaths in the family or medical emergencies which may lead children who had previously stopped working to have no choice but to return to work. These dynamics help explain why prevalence rates may fluctuate even within long- standing cooperatives.
Child labour prevalence across partner cooperatives
Industry average: 46.7%* 9% prevalence across all partner cooperatives
13% in child labour
Newer partner cooperatives
Cooperatives that have entered into their Initial Collaboration Agreement or a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding with Tony's Open Chain.
not in child labour 87%
Longest-term partner cooperatives Cooperatives in their second Memorandum of Understanding or beyond, i.e., those that have been in a partnership with Tony’s Open Chain for more than 5 years.
4% in child labour
96% not in child labour
We can’t guarantee we found all cases of child labour. There is always an unavoidable risk that the CLMRS will not find all of them. This is because the community facilitators aren’t always able to visit every household each year, and some cases may go undetected during visits. *It is important to note that there are methodological differences between the NORC industry study and how child labour prevalence is calculated through CLMRS
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