Cotton

Cotton is one of the most traded agricultural raw materials in the world today and child labour is widespread in the cotton-producing industry. According to the Environmental Justice Foundation, 6 of the world's 7 cotton producers have reportedly used children in their fields.

Children are involved in harvesting, producing hybrid-seeds, applying pesticides and pest control. They are exposed to hazardous and dangerous conditions and hard, difficult labour - all at the expense of their education. A global demand for cheap cotton is forcing children into the cotton field and out of the classroom.

"The link between children in fields and consumers in the west cannot be avoided." The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)

Some cotton facts

• There are four main types of cotton: genetically modified, conventional, fair-trade and organic.



• European and North American consumers account for 75% of world clothing imports. Therefore, these consumers can influence how the cotton industry operates.



• 99% of cotton farmers live and work in the developing world where 70% of the world's cotton supply is produced. Two thirds of these farmers live in India and China.



• Cotton uses more insecticide than any other crop.



• Child labour subsidises the cotton industry through free and cheap labour and the bargaining power of adults is greatly reduced.



• One third of textiles coming into the EU come from China followed by Turkey and India. The UK and Germany are the biggest EU cotton importers.



• 60% of the world's cotton is used for clothing, 35% is used in home furnishings and 5% is used in industrial products.



• Subsidies to farmers in rich countries drive the price of cotton downwards. For examples, the US cotton industry was subsidised by $4.2 billion in 2004/5. sub-Saharan Africa lost $350 million as a result of reduced artificial world prices.



• It is estimated that the removal of cotton subsidies would see an increase in household income by 2.3-5.7%. This would significantly increase family income, allowing farmers to, among other things, send their children to school.

Cotton and Education
Cases of children missing out on their right to education can be found all over the world. For example, in Uzbekistan, state-imposed quotas force children out of the classroom and into the cotton fields. In central Asia, students are removed from school during harvest season and children are sent to work in cotton fields under the guise of "summer camps". In China, schools in the cotton-producing region are forced to undertake "work-study"programmes, are under-funded and teachers are not paid. Poor quality education sees a high drop out rate and an increase in the number of children working to supply the cotton industry.

Children also migrate across boarders during harvest season, missing out on their education for most of the school year.

Take action
"Consumers are fuelling a false economy that deprives children of their childhood and developing countries of an educated future generation." (EJF)

It is entirely possible and feasible to establish the source of all cotton. However, the cotton producing industry will only take responsibility when it is pressurised to do so through political will and consumer action. Consumers must create demand for ethically and sustainably produced cotton.

Without labelling and completely transparent supply chains, the cotton industry is denying consumers the option to make informed choices about their purchases. Labels must indicate both the country of origin plus the country of manufacture. Consumers must demand to know who is handling cotton at every stage of its production.

For more information visit: www.continentalclothing.com www.ejfoundation.org