Child Labor in India Could Affect Carpetmakers

New Delhi, India, October 19, 2007–Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh on Thursday warned Indian carpet manufacturers against using child labor, which could lead to a ban on exports to the United States and other Western nations, according to the Hindu.

He said the U.S. government might be thinking of publicly listing handmade carpets as products of child labor following a law passed by Congress last year.

On October 1, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice seeking comments on “procedural guidelines” for preparing a public list of goods produced by child and forced labor in violation of international standards. This action is in response to the law that asks the U.S government to carry out “additional activities to monitor and combat forced labor and child labor in foreign countries.” Ramesh said.

“The government and industry will have to work together to deal effectively with this new development, which could be used by groups hostile to our interests.

In the last fiscal year, India’s exports of handmade carpets were around $800 million, with the U.S. market alone accounting for 50% cent and Germany 20%. India accounts for about 35% of the world trade in handmade carpet.