ECLT members commit to fighting child labor

Members of the Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco Growing Foundation  signed a Pledge of Commitment and Minimum Requirements on combating child labor.

As part of the pledge, ECLT members commit to work collaboratively with the relevant local, national, regional and international stakeholders to progressively eliminate all forms of child labor from the tobacco supply chain

The pledge states, “ECLT Foundation Board Members respect and recognize the principles and rights enshrined in the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions and Recommendations on child labor.”

The members’ aim to align their actions with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The organization wants to address the complex child labor problem holistically and throughout the members’ respective tobacco-sourcing supply chains.

The International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) joins in the pledge and commits to raising awareness as part of its membership to the ECLT.

The International Labour Organization said, “We welcome the adoption of the pledge by ECLT members and hope that it will result in greater and ever more coherent efforts to end child labor in all its forms in tobacco growing communities worldwide.”

Save the Children Switzerland noted, “The ECLT member pledge is a key drive towards ensuring children are removed from child labor, and ensuring the tobacco industry holds itself accountable for a minimal set of provisions throughout its supply chain.”