Sir, The problem of child labour is a complex issue caused in part by the extreme price pressure that Western companies put on Indian suppliers (report, June 17). This forces the suppliers to cut corners wherever they can and an effective way of reducing wages is to employ child labour. A job paying a living wage will never be given to a child.

Simply cutting off these factories — as Primark has done — is not an ethical solution. The company has washed its hands of any further involvement with factories in Tamil Nadu, southern India. This will cause untold misery while the cost of food is rising in India.

There are, however, Fairtrade clothing companies that work with producer partners in villages such as Tamil Nadu where there has never been any question of child labour being used, as a tailor working there can earn enough to keep a family of five. The jobs there are so sought after that the community has insisted that only one member of each family is allowed to join the tailoring societies. Fairtrade-certified organic cotton is also used, guaranteeing that no children are working in the growing of the cotton.

Improving the lives of garment workers in India requires long-term solutions, not knee-jerk reactions.

Carolyn Whitwell
Bishopston Trading Company
Bristol

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