2. Alarming Child Labor Statistics
“Across the world 215 million children are trapped in child labor with 115 million of
these involved in hazardous work.” (Phillip Morris International)
60 percent of child laborers work in agriculture, and most are unpaid family workers.
“Poverty is the main cause for child labor in agriculture.” (Phillip Morris International)
3. Child Labor in the Tobacco Industry
Tobacco farms has used children in their fields for years.
Children under the age of 18.
Exposed to “green tobacco sickness” (Greenhouse)
12 hour shifts.
50 to 60 hour work weeks.
90 degree heat with no water.
"Most people kept trash bags on them, with holes for their arms and head,
to keep chemicals off their clothing.“ (Maqbool)
Mainly illegal immigrants.
4. Child Labor in the Tobacco Industry
“Public health experts and federal labor officials have sought to bar
teenagers under 16 from the tobacco fields.” (Greenfield)
Brazil and India already require you to be 18 years old.
Hilda Solis- tried to make working in the tobacco fields under the age of 16
illegal.
Obama’s administration denied to work on this regulation.
“Federal law allows those 12 and older to work on farms for unlimited
hours, as long as there is no conflict with school.” (Greenfield)
5. Dangers in the Tobacco Fields
“Last week, they made us work when it was raining, and I got water in my
mouth and I felt dizziness and nausea,” (Greenhouse)
Human Rights Watch in a May 2014 report found that children working on
tobacco farms in the United States are exposed to nicotine, toxic
pesticides, extreme heat, and other dangers. (Human Rights Watch)
“Despite the known risks of nicotine poisoning, there are no special
provisions in US laws or regulations to protect children from the unique
hazards of tobacco work.” (Human Rights Watch)
6. Philip Morris International
Detailed child labor policy.
Minimum age to work is 15 years
No workers under the age of 18 for hazard work.
For family farms you may work over 13 years old and if it is light work.
Using 3rd party suppler such as Alliance One International and Universal
Corporation.
7. Fernando and Saray’s Story
Fernando is 13 years old.
"Usually we would wake up around four or five in the morning and get to
the farm around six,“ (Fernando Rodriguez)
"On the first day when I was working [the chemicals] got on my face a lot
and I didn't know until I got home later that day my face was burning.“
(Fernando Rodriguez)
Saray is also 13 years old.
Like Fernando she also puts a trash bag on each day.
She has trouble breathing.
8. Putting an End to Child Labor
PMI has trained more than 2,900 field technicians, who have reached out to more
than 335,000 farmers in 28 different countries to inform them about their Agricultural
Labor Practice (ALP) Code.
PMI is focused on working with farmers to achieve measurable tangible
improvements over time, but if PMI does no see any improvements then they will
terminate the contract they have with the farmer.
PMI is committed to funding programs around the world to improve working and
living conditions in tobacco growing communities, which also includes access to
clean water and better education for the children. (Phillip Morris International)
9. Citation
Greenhouse, Steven. "Just 13, and Working Risky 12-Hour Shifts in the
Tobacco Fields." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Sept. 2014.
Web. 06 Dec. 2014.
Greenhouse, Steven. "Just 13, and Working Risky 12-Hour Shifts in the
Tobacco Fields." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Sept. 2014.
Web. 06 Dec. 2014.
Maqbool, Aleem. "Report Decries Tobacco Child Labour." BBC News. N.p.,
14 May 2014. Web. 06 Dec. 2014.
"Eliminating Child Labor." Philip Morris International. N.p., n.d. Web.
