Bayer subsidiary gets tough on child labour

Distribution Network
Content
Proagro, a Bayer Cropsciences subsidiary, is penalizing 11 hybrid cottonseed farmers in Andhra Pradesh, India, and is cancelling its contracts with three more after finding they were employing child labour. It has blacklisted another nine for using child labour but has imposed no penalties.

The company has prepared a plan with non-governmental organizations to tackle the child labour problem in the state, rewarding good employers as well as taking action against undesirable ones.

Under the plan the company pays farmers an extra five per cent if they stop employing child labour, but those found to have used children receive ten per cent less. Proagro will refuse to deal with farmers who continue to violate the company rule.

If farmers in a village outlaw child labour, the company says that it will build schools for the community and supply educational material.