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.
