Child Labour in Cottonseed Production by Ashok Khandelwal

1000 to Rs. 25000, depending on the number of workers needed and the mate's equation
with the employer. The workers also reported receiving advances in varying amounts. The
advance is given against the condition that workers will have to work through the season.
The final settlement is done at the end. The advance serves both the purposes of assured
labour supply and restriction on freedom of movement for the workers.
Most of the children surveyed missed their homes. More than two thirds reported being sent
by their parents. A large majority wanted work nearer home. The children work between 9
to 12 hours per day in two shifts from 5-6 AM in the morning to 11-12 AM in the forenoon
and from 2- 2.30 to 6.30 7 PM in the afternoon. The commonly reported wage was Rs. 50 per
day. This is less than legal entitlement that should be Rs. 75 for a 10 hour workday. The
work conditions were difficult. The children slept on ground. Boys and girls shared the same
living and sleeping space. They often cooked in open and rains caused problems. Around 10
percent workers reported falling ill.
The seed rate, the procurement price paid by companies to farmers, has not changed since
last three years. More than fifty farmers quoted a seed rate between Rs. 230 to 250 per kg.
The farmers complained that while wages have gone up by 50 percent over last three years,
the seed rate has not changed. This was cited as one of the main reasons by the farmers
behind their inability to raise wages and attract adult workers.
The study discusses the conditions of employment in relation to the provisions of four of
the national laws, namely, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, Minimum
Wages Act, 1948, Interstate Migrant Workers (CS & RE) Act, 1979 and Bonded Labour
(Abolition) Act, 1976 and international instruments in ILO Convention 138 on Minimum
Age and 182 on the worst forms of child labour. While ILO Conventions have not been
ratified by the Government of India, the MNC Monsanto, the main stakeholder in business,
promises strict compliance with these conventions in its Human Rights Policy.
Employment of children per se in agriculture operations is not illegal according to the Child
Labour Act. However most of the provisions of this Act that regulate employment of
children are being violated. In fact significant provisions of all the above mentioned Acts
that are oriented to welfare of the workers simply remain dead letters.
The report concludes that the workers are recruited, transported, harboured, by means of
coercion, fraud, deception; abuse of power (including parental) for the purpose of
exploitation through forced labour and servitude. Thus, as per the condition stipulated in
ILO Convention Article 3(a), the workers are toiling under worst form of child labour. In
fact the definition as given in section 3(d) is also equally applicable to the workers in
question. Long hours of work, use of pesticides, sexual exploitation, snake bites, imbibing
06 :: Child Labour in Cottonseed Production