A recent investigation by NGO Transparentem uncovered alarming conditions on cotton farms in Madhya Pradesh, India, where nearly half of the workers are subjected to forced labor practices. Many workers, including children, enter debt with their employers who pay them meager daily wages of 200 rupees. This debt bondage traps families in a cycle of dependency, preventing them from seeking better work opportunities. The report highlighted the connections between these farms and significant cotton manufacturers like Pratibha Syntex, leading several brands to reevaluate their supply chains and join initiatives like the Fair Labor Association to combat these issues.
Between June 2022 and March 2023, an investigation revealed that almost half of the cotton farms in Madhya Pradesh are exploiting workers through forced labor.
The entire workforce infrastructure is driven by a perverse system where workers incur debts with their employers, who limit their earnings to 200 rupees a day.
The NGO Transparentem exposed strong links between the exploited farms and major cotton factories, prompting brands like Inditex and H&M to cease their partnerships.
The issue is alarming, with many children working in conditions akin to slavery, all while branded as sustainable cotton suppliers.
Collection
[
|
...
]