As the MDG deadlines approach, and having just marked the first anniversary of the launch of the Children's Rights and Business Principles for business, I [Georg Kell] have joined with Gordon Brown and ILO director-general Guy Ryder in sending a letter to more than 7,000 firms…that are participating in the UN Global Compact, urging them to improve their support for these principles…To eliminate child labour, we need careful effort from businesses on the ground. Dropping operations that utilise underage workers from a supply chain does not always stop them from finding other outlets…A multi-dimensional, multi-stakeholder, collaborative approach seems to be what works best...Our letter to businesses states: "When children have access to quality education, child labour prevalence is greatly reduced and economic and social development is promoted."…[It] encourages companies to invest in education, to publicly identify their actions in support of children's rights and to engage in new commitments to secure our common future, which is our children. [Refers to IKEA]