Transparentem recently released From Field to Fabric: Enhancing Due Diligence in Cotton Supply Chains, summarizing the findings of an investigation between June 2022 and March 2023 on cotton farms in the Khargone and Barwani districts of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The investigation found evidence of child labor and illegal adolescent labor, debt bondage, withholding of wages, other wage violations and poverty-level wages, abusive working conditions, and abuse of vulnerability on farms connected to the Pratibha Syntex, Maral Overseas, and Remei India/Remei AG supply chains. Transparentem also found evidence that the organic cotton farms connected to the Pratibha Syntex supply chain may be tainted by pesticides.
Transparentem recommends brands and retailers to get involved in remediation efforts and programs to improve working conditions, such as the Fair Labor Association’s Harvesting the Future – Cotton in India. The report includes detailed information about supplier engagement by Indian companies, as well as corporate responses and engagement with Transparentem. There is a useful table that lists Cotton sourcing initiatives, certifications, and business associations, including YESS.
While there are inherent challenges in addressing complex and systemic issues, Transparentem continues to urge the suppliers and buyers to move with urgency toward implementing remediation plans to prevent and respond to all identified risks so that children and workers do not continue to suffer.
