Child Labour at India's Som Liquor Unit: Children Worked 11 Hours a Day, Government Says

NEW DELHI, July 2 (Reuters) - An inspection by the Madhya Pradesh state government has uncovered a disturbing case of child labour at a Som Group distillery. The investigation revealed that children, some as young as 13, were forced to fill and pack liquor bottles while working grueling 11-hour shifts. This revelation has sparked outrage and highlighted the persistent issue of child labour within India's industrial sectors.

Discovery and Initial Findings
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) conducted an inspection last month, uncovering 58 children working illegally at the distillery. Photos released by the commission showed children with chemical burns on their hands, suggesting they were exposed to hazardous conditions without proper protection. Alarmingly, some children were transported to the factory using school buses, further underscoring the severity of the exploitation.

Government Inspection Report
Following the NCPCR's findings, the state's industrial health and safety department conducted interviews with 27 workers, the youngest being just 13 years old. The inspection report, not publicly available but seen by Reuters, confirmed that these children worked 11-hour shifts starting at 8 a.m. The law in Madhya Pradesh prohibits anyone under 21 from working in a liquor factory, making this a clear violation of child labour laws.
Response from Som and State Authorities
Som Group and the Madhya Pradesh government did not respond to requests for comment. However, in a submission to the state government on June 18, Som Group claimed that some children visited the company to deliver food and medicines to their parents, asserting that no worker was younger than 21. This defense has been widely criticized as an attempt to downplay the severity of the situation.

Broader Implications
This incident has drawn attention to the pervasive issue of child labour in Indian supply chains. In 2021, Reuters reported similar findings of underage labourers at Carlsberg warehouses in Jharkhand. Carlsberg terminated the services of the third-party provider involved, but the problem persists across various industries.
Inspection Report Details
The state government’s report highlighted that the children were not trained on how to protect themselves from harmful chemicals, emphasizing the hazardous nature of their work. The report stated, "Since it is hazardous work, there should have been a health centre at the factory."

Legal and Corporate Actions
In response to these findings, the Madhya Pradesh government temporarily suspended the Som distillery's manufacturing licenses. However, Som Group challenged the decision, arguing that there has been no conclusive finding of wrongdoing. A local court has since put the suspension on hold, with the next hearing scheduled for later this month.