Global retailers warn against Indian child labour

After a recent study exposing bonded-labour practised in the

South Indian states named as ‘Sumangali’, major global retailers like Wal-Mart, GAP, C&A, H&M, Primark, Mother and Tesco have warned their Indian suppliers who source from textile mills engaging child or bonded labour. Under ‘Sumangali’ meaning ‘bride’, parents of girls in Tamil Nadu are paid a lump-sum amount of Rs 36,000 to 56,000 at the end of a three year work contract. This practise is considered to be exploitive in nature. So, several international retailers have distanced themselves from sourcing from suppliers who follow the ‘Sumangali’ scheme. This move by global giants could affect the Indian apparel industry, which earns a large part of its business from Europe and the US.

The issues are being raised against such practices since girls are forced to stay in hostels and their salaries are withheld for three years. On top of it they are just paid Rs 40-60 a day, against the state’s minimum wage limit of Rs 184. In some cases, contracts are terminated illegally so that the mill does not have to pay anything to the girls.

On the other hand, the industry feels that the schemes like ‘Sumangali’ gives dignity of labour to the otherwise illiterate and poor women. It is said that similar pre-marriage schemes also prevail in China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand since lump-sum paid at the end of the contract helps the girl’s parents during their daughter’s wedding.