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International Insights

Trade


Q. What do carpets, chocolate and children have in common?
A. Child Labour

An estimated 165 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are involved in child labour. Many work long hours in dangerous conditions. Poor families may depend upon the child working to supplement the family income and place more emphasis on this, than an education that can give them the best chance of achieving ‘decent work’ when they are older.
Boys are trafficked between West African countries to work on plantations producing cocoa and cotton. Unless your chocolate has a ‘Fair Trade’ mark, it is possible child labour has been used in the production.
In India, Pakistan and Nepal children may work 10 to 14 hours in cramped and hazardous conditions weaving, knotting and cutting threads in carpets. The UK imports millions of handmade rugs each year, many having been made using illegal child labour. Look for the ‘Rugmark’ label; this is proof that no illegal child labour has been used to make the carpet or rug.


Q. Can we expect fair play at the London Olympics?
A. It’s up to you


The licensing and merchandise for the Olympic Games is an industry worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Studies of past Olympics have revealed that the workers who worked hard to produce Olympic goods did not get their fair share of the vast profits generated. The Playfair 2008 campaign investigated working conditions in factories producing bags, headgear and stationery bearing the Olympic logo. They found products produced by children as young as 12, adults earning 14p per hour, employees working 15 hours a day, seven days a week in unsafe and unhealthy conditions.
Look out for Playfair 2012 activities in the coming months, as a consumer you have the power to make a difference.

Think before you buy.

For further information on these and other international issues visit our international pages.