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Article

10 May 2015

Author:
India Committee of the Netherlands & Stop Child Labour

Press Release: Modern slavery and child labour in Indian quarries : stop child labour urges companies and government to take action

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Modern slavery is widespread in Indian quarries. Child labour also occurs frequently. This is the main outcome of the report Rock Bottom - Modern Slavery and Child Labour in South Indian Granite Quarries on working conditions in South Indian granite quarries which is published by the India Committee of the Netherlands in collaboration with the coalition Stop Child Labour. Gerard Oonk, director of the India Committee of the Netherlands, is not surprised by the results: "Companies doing business in this industry can no longer close their eyes to these problems. Also Dutch companies have the responsibility to prevent or address these human rights violations." 26 European natural stone companies have been requested to review a draft version of the report. Of the 26 companies only 12 responded. And although only 2 of these companies claim to have insight in the origin of granite products at quarry level, 8 companies indicate that they do not obtain granite from the quarries investigated. Only 3 of the 12 companies have joined an initiative that aims at improving working conditions in the natural stone industry.

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