Improving Rice Workers' Conditions, Human Capital and Resilience to Reduce Child Labor Risks in Punjab, Pakistan – Sustainable Scale-up Initiative Pakistan is one of the world’s top 10 rice exporting countries. Over 700,000 people are involved in rice cultivation in Pakistan, of which a substantial number are women transplanters. Research indicates that in the rice producing regions of Pakistan, children are not engaged in transplanting operations. Children can be present in fields where shelter may be lacking, which can expose them to humid and hot weather. Other hazardous conditions, like dangerous animals, limited access to drinking water, and exposure to pesticides used on rice can present additional risks to children who are present on farms.Women often work as rice transplanters, which represents a significant source of their income. These transplanters indicate that that they may bring children along during work because they feel there is no safe space in their community to leave their children behind. Issues like low human capital, lack of educational opportunities, and low incomes exacerbate the risks of children being out of school and present on fields. Mars, RPL, FHRI, and CARE are deploying an innovative program across three rice-growing districts to sustainably address  root causes that in some instances can contribute to child labour risks, and to support child well-being. The program, Improving Rice Workers’ Conditions, Human Capital and Resilience to Reduce Child Labour Risks in Punjab, Pakistan – Sustainable Scale-up Initiative, aims to directly impact 21,450 transplanters, children, young adults, and community members and raise awareness on human and child rights for at least 25,400 individuals and 150 rice millers in the system.The project interventions consist of:1.	Improving working conditions: Project is improving access to shelter, free medical care, and wages so that workers are paid legal minimum wage. 2.	Decreasing children on-farm: Project is raising awareness about human rights among community members. This is being achieved through new childcare facilities and youth development centers where teachers and community members are engaged on issues of human rights, climate change, and decent working conditions. 3.	Improving financial resilience: Project is setting up Village Savings and Loan groups and implementing trainings for improved financial management for farmers. These efforts aim to improve incomes as low incomes are a root cause of child labour risks.			4.	Enhancing opportunities for youth: Project has facilitated enhanced opportunities for vocational education. After completing vocational coursework, project proponents support youth of working age with startup assets to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities or employment. 5.	Improving understanding of risks: Project is supporting ability for project stakeholders to understand, prevent, and address human rights risks to people. About the Project PartnersCARE International is Mars’ long-time multi-country partner on supporting communities’ financial resilience via Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs).  CARE International in Pakistan (CIP) is among the leading international NGOs in Pakistan and has reached over 33 million beneficiaries across multiple programs.FHRI is the leading national NGO using rights-based approach, working in all four provinces of the country and promoting human rights education.Mars is a global business of people and brands with a clear purpose. Mars believes the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. It is the vision at the heart of the Sustainable in a Generation Plan - one where the planet is healthy, people and pets are thriving, and society is inclusive.RPL is a social impact business that works with hundreds of growers of basmati rice in Pakistan, to provide them with best practices and the support they need to increase their yields and livelihoods.