Ikea, the Swedish-based home furnishings retailer, is trying to do what it can to ensure its suppliers do not employ children. The company?s child labor initiative aims to put an end to child labor in India's carpet belt. Ikea?s program is based on helping the mothers of child workers in the area become financially independent, as it is typically family debt that makes child labor necessary.
See "Ikea Strives to Confront Child Labor Issue", Edward Luce, Los Angeles Times, September 19, 2004