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US move to curb child labour may hit Indian exports

The US Congress is expected to approve a bill, seeking to ban goods made by bonded child labourers. The move may affect India's exports to the US.

The legislation is currently being considered by a joint committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

According to its sponsors, there are over 15 million indentured child labourers in South Asia and some children, as young as four years old, are sold into bondage in India and Pakistan.

Children's rights groups say that indentured child labourers are used to mine gems or in factories making products like shoes and matchsticks.

The bill will authorise non-governmental organisations and child labour groups to investigate where children are being exploited.

The measure, having the Clinton administration's backing, would not ban products made by 14-year-olds who are not indentured workers.

This would be the first law barring imports of goods made by child labour.

UNI