Child labour for soccer balls annoys activists

By Our Special Correspondent New Delhi Oct. 6: Children as young as six were found stitching soccer balls for multi national companies in Jalandhar, the largest manufacturer of footballs and Meerut the second largest manufacturing city. The investigation into child labour in the manufacture of footballs was done by Real Sports in India from where millions of balls are manufactured and exported. It said all over the world, children play soccer and kick soccer balls made by children in India. The investigation found kids as young as six stitching the balls in the poorest slums of the country. Most are paid meagrely, while others get nothing. A children’s rights activist in India says these children don’t get the proper nutrition and don’t go to school as they have to work 10-15 hours a day. Child activist Kailash... [read full story]