CALL #276 (2004 November 2- December 31)

In India, thousands of children work in cottonseed production. Is this simply an age-old practice that is gradually dying out? The situation is more complex than that. These children are exploited for the benefit of ultramodern firms, some of which are well-known multinationals. But despite their technological modernity, the labour policies of these firms are archaic, as M.V. Foundation, an Indian non-governmental organization points out. The children work in appalling conditions: long hours in the sun, day after day, exposure to highly toxic pesticides, and physical and psychological ill-treatment. Most often the firms concerned strictly control production, quality, quantities and location, but when it comes to their social responsibility their promises remain empty. This is what Indian NGOs and their international partners are challenging. They are calling on firms in the sector, especially the US-based international group Monsanto, to put their words into action.

In the early summer of 2004, Paramesh, Bhoolakshmi and Mallesh, three children aged eight, twelve and thirteen, respectively, died from exposure to highly toxic pesticides in cottonseed plantations.

Unfortunately these were not the first ’accidents’ of this nature. It is the exploitation of children in general that has to be eradicated, says the organization M.V. Foundation which has made the fight against this plague a priority.

In a report published in 2003 the Indian organization revealed that in the State of Andra Pradesh, 53,000 children work for multinationals, and close to 200,000 for Indian firms. Inquiries have also been carried out in Gujarat and in Karnataka, where tens of thousands of children are concerned.

These children usually work for nine or ten hours a day, and for up to 13 hours a day in high season, for wages lower than those of adults. Very often employers ensure the ’loyalty’ of this labour by advancing the children’s wages to their parents in the form of loans that bind them to the employer. The result is bonded labour comparable to slavery.

The M.V. Foundation is working to secure these children’s release and to ensure that they are able to attend school. Yet the farmers and employers concerned are simply links in a chain, who depend on the conditions imposed on them by their customers.

Multinationals involved

Multinationals are playing an increasingly important part in this sector, liberalized in the 1990s.

In 2001, over 20% of the surface area cultivated in Andrha Pradesh was for five firms: Syngenta, Hindustan Lever, Advanta, Proagro and Mahyco-Monsanto. The introduction of genetically modified cotton in the Indian market is likely to substantially enhance their influence.

But the grand declarations made in these multinationals’ codes of conduct seem to be designed to reassure consumers more than anything else. Although they do not directly employ children, they weigh heavily on the entire production process - and have little interest in using their influence for social purposes unless they are forced to do so.

Owing to national and international pressure, several firms have finally agreed to take this problem into consideration. In September 2003, represented by the Association of Seed Industry, they announced that they would no longer tolerate child labour. In February 2004, brochures were disseminated widely to reaffirm this commitment. At a public round-table they stated their concern regarding this issue and pledged to cooperate with the M.V. Foundation. A ’Working group for the eradication of child labour’ was also set up.

Don’t wait for other tragedies to happen

In June 2004 the Indian organization noticed that the firms concerned had got no further than promises. Contrary to their commitments, they refused to hand over the list of their suppliers. Provision had also been made for inclusion, in the supply contracts, of a clause on child labour, and for a copy of the contracts to be sent to the M.V. Foundation. This was not being done. The working group never met and, in general, the firms kept postponing anything that would allow an improvement in the situation.

It took the scandal related to the death of the three children for dialogue to be reopened. A meeting was organized between the stakeholders on 9 July 2004, and new resolutions taken. The M.V. Foundation finally obtained information on the production sites. Yet only two firms - Advanta and Syngenta - have given the organization copies of their supply contracts, in which little mention is made of child labour.

To make sure that another tragedy doesn’t happen before something is done, pressure has to be maintained on firms in the sector.

MORE INFO:

The firm Monsanto:

In 2003 Monsanto had a turnover of five billion dollars, making it the third largest player in the international agri-supply business. The group is present in 52 countries.

A substantial part of Monsanto’s business is based in France. With a turnover of €167m in 2003, France was its main market in Europe.

However, the firm is also known for its poor environmental record.

Call in liaison with:

India Committee of the Netherlands: www.indianet.nl/english

M.V.Foundation: www.mvfindia.org

WHAT TO DO

Write a letter: copy the standard letter below or download it by clicking here.
Send your letter to Monsanto (address in the letter).

Deadline: ideally, as soon as you receive this call; otherwise until end-December 2004.

LETTER:

Date :

Monsanto Agriculture France SAS

Service des Relations extérieures

Europarc du Chêne

1, rue Jacques Monod

69673 Bron Cedex

Madame, Monsieur,

J’ai été informé par le Réseau-Solidarité (10 quai de Richemont - 35000 Rennes) qu’en Inde, des dizaines de milliers d’enfants produisent du coton dans des conditions de travail épouvantables. Trois enfants sont même décédés au début de l’été après avoir respiré des produits toxiques.

Or le groupe Monsanto est l’une des firmes impliquées en Inde dans ce secteur d’activités. Il me semble donc impératif que Monsanto fasse du respect des droits fondamentaux une priorité, en particulier dans l’Etat du Madhya Pradesh où votre entreprise devrait :

  mettre en œuvre un plan immédiat d’éradication du travail des enfants, en collaboration avec des organisations locales comme la M.V. Foundation ;

  respecter le droit d’association et de négociation collective ;

  acheter le coton à un prix loyal qui permette aux producteurs d’employer des adultes et de les rémunérer correctement.

Dans l’attente de votre réponse, et restant attentif aux initiatives que votre entreprise prendra concrètement, je vous prie d’agréer l’expression de mes salutations distinguées.

TRANSLATION:

Monsanto Agriculture France SAS

Public relations department

Europarc du Chêne

1, rue Jacques Monod

69 673 Bron cedex

[Date]

Dear Sir, Madam,

I have been informed by Réseau-Solidarité (10 quai de Richemont, 35000 Rennes) that tens of thousands of children in India are employed in appalling conditions in cotton production. Three children died earlier this year after inhaling highly toxic products.

The Monsanto Group is involved in the cotton industry in India. It is therefore essential for your company to ensure that basic human rights are observed, essentially in the State of Madhya Pradesh. We urge you to:

  immediately implement a plan to eradicate child labour, in collaboration with local organizations such as the M.V. Foundation;

  respect the right of association and collective bargaining;

  buy cotton at a fair price that enables producers to employ adults and to pay them a decent wage.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to further information concerning your firm’s initiatives in this respect.

Yours faithfully,