British store to probe child labour use by Indian suppliers
Britain's popular high street departmental store Poundland has ordered an inquiry into an allegation that one of its Indian suppliers of decorative Christmas goods employed children, including a seven-year-old.
According to an undercover investigation conducted by The Sunday Times into child labour in New Delhi, the seven-year-old boy, known only as Ravi, worked 98 hours a week to produce decorative Christmas goods, earning 7 pence an hour for his widowed mother.
A reporter posing as a buyer for shops in Britain and carrying a hidden camera found Ravi decorating golden napkin rings with silver alongside other children and teenagers.
According to the reporter, the child's face was pale and pock-marked and he looked exhausted.|
The sweatshop, the report said, delivers glittery goods ranging from notebooks to mirrors to an Indian exporter who in turn supplies Poundland.
The exporter said it had been unaware that children were being used to produce the items and promised to end its relationship with the manufacturer.Poundland, whose revenues reached 400 million pounds last year, announced an immediate inquiry."Poundland does not tolerate child labour under any circumstances and will not work with companies that employ children," it said.
