Time to end child labour
Workers should make sacrifices
Sunday November 11 2007
Sir -- Concern's Stop Child Labour campaign welcomes the recent article by Constance Harris highlighting the exploitation of children in the textile manufacturing industry ('Let's declare war on slave masters of the rag trade', November 4)
Child labour is a reality for 1 in 7 children around the world today. That is 218 million children going to work instead of receiving full-time formal education. As Constance Harris noted, child labour is driven by global demand for cheaply produced products. Products that we buy every day.
It is no longer acceptable to hide behind the excuse of "not knowing", or that supply chains are "impossible to trace". Retailers and manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that no children are put to work in order to increase their profits.
We as consumers need to demand that retailers guarantee that no child labour was involved in the manufacture of the products they are selling. Consumers need to make informed choices about what they buy and who they buy from, making it clear that they are against child labour.
It is time for transparency in the supply chain of the goods on our shelves.
It is time to end child labour. School is the best place to work.
Chief Executive,
Concern.
Sir -- It is sad to see so many factories closing down in recent years. I think, if a factory is in genuine financial difficulties, the workers should agree to work one day every month without pay.
This could be negotiated by their trade union. Eight hours' free labour per month is a small price to pay for saving your job.
I now deviate from the subject matter to refer to another group of people who should make a sacrifice for the good of the country.
I am referring to the Taoiseach, government ministers, and TDs who were recently awarded a 14 per cent increase in salary. I have a question for them. Is it right to take this increase when the Government has to borrow money to run the country for the next year? They should not take the rise in salary.
I now call on the Taoiseach, government ministers and TDs to make that sacrifice.
Let those who wish to do so stand up and be counted.
Killaloe, Co Clare
