A World Vision Canada report says, Canadian consumers may be unwittingly buying goods made by child labourers. And those who want to make ethical buying decisions are largely in the dark about what companies are doing to prevent child labour in their supply chains, the report says.

World Vision Canada is calling for a new law to force companies that do business in Canada to report annually on the measures they take to ensure that factories in other countries aren't using minors to make products for the Canadian marketplace. Similar legislation exists in other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom and California; the US Congress is reviewing a proposed federal law.

Simon Lewchuk, who has been heading the initiative for World Vision Canada says, there is an opportunity for Canada to get on board. It's an issue of promoting the Canadian brand for responsible business; it's an opportunity to ensure that we are competitive too. The recommendation is one of several in the report, which comes one day after Canada ratified an International Labour Organisation convention on child labour that proclaims the minimum age for work should be 15.