Though illegal,

child labor pervades

many parts of the

world, affecting

children as young as

4 years old.

The debts that bind them

to their employers are

incurred by their

relatives or

guardians, usually a

parent, for necessities

like food, medicine, or

dowries.

Children work under

conditions of servitude to

pay off debts.

Bonded

Child

Labor

Recently, IKEA was

accused of

permitting this

abhorrent practice

in a supplier’s

factory in India.

The accusations

were fabricated.

But that didn’t

stop us from

addressing a very

real problem.

At IKEA, our policy is to maintain our relationships

with individual suppliers for as long as possible.

We understand that behind each supplier are people

with families.

But we do not tolerate abuse of children

in the workplace.

That is why we are taking the following precautions

to ensure none of our suppliers deal goods

produced by child laborers:

Ensure workers meet the age requirement

(14 years old)

Bi-weekly and surprise factory inspections of

working conditions by Rugmark

Improve conditions and pay for

laborers who meet the age requirement

All suppliers will commit to report

employee pay

IKEA is establishing a non-profit organization to

alleviate the burden of bonded child laborers in India

10% of profits from all rug purchases will go toward

IKEA for the Children

IKEA Customers

Can rest easy with the

knowledge that they are

buying products made

without the use of child

labor.

Additionally, 10% of all

rug profits will go to

IKEA’s nonprofit IKEA

for the Children

Rug Factory

Will continue to

maintain a good

relationship with IKEA

and keep our business

Rugmark

Create a full-time

inspection position in

India to oversee

operations at the rug

factory

Despite the false

accusations, we felt it

was time to do our part

to end the atrocities of

child labor that plague

so many countries around

the world.

You can do yours by

visiting

www.ikeachildren.org

Thanks for believing in us.