Child labour is a prevalent problem in cotton production, a crop worth around US$30 billion a year - the majority of which goes into clothes. Children as young as seven are used in the fields to fill the quota required to fill our consumer needs.

In addition to missing schools, and essentially being denied a childhood, the young workers are exposed to risks from dangerous machinery and hazardous chemicals used on the crops. Quite predictably, the exploited workers face these conditions for little or no pay.

In Uzbekistan, the second biggest cotton exporter in the world, schools are shut down during harvest season. In one region alone it is estimated that up to 200,000 children are taken to the fields to pick cotton. Those who fail to meet their daily quota or pick poor quality crops are reportedly punished by scolding, beatings or detention.

‘These children need our help,’ says Petra Kjell, campaigner at the EJF. ‘It’s time for consumer action and a small action can make a big change. We want people to ask their retailer to guarantee their cotton is not produced by children. It’s a simple question and if the retailer can’t answer it, we are telling consumers not to buy their product.’

While Europe continues to import almost US$350 million’s worth of cotton from Uzbekistan, alone, each year - and in doing so sustaining the exploitation, it’s quite likely cotton you see on sale has been picked by little hands.

Steve Trent, Executive Director of the EJF, says: ‘Retailers have a duty to know the history of the products they sell through a transparent supply chain that would enable them to help prevent this human exploitation, and guarantee child labour had not been used in their production.’

So when you are next buying clothes for your children think ‘Fair Trade‘ and go to www.littlegreenbabies.co.uk

Original Article by Gemma Taylor