child Labour

By: Benjamin Douglas Brokaw

Tobacco Industry

• Tobacco is any plant from the genus Nicotiana
• Tobacco is mostly used for smoking
• Can come in many other forms like chewing tobacco or tobacco dip
• Large amounts are imported from China and India
• Child Labour is used in the Tobacco industry
• Another country that imports large amounts of tobacco is Malawi

Child Labour is a main factor in Malawi tobacco growth.

Pamela is an 18 year-old worker. When her dad died in 2008, she had to start working to help her mother support the family. She used to work from dawn to late afternoon, but now she is trained as a carpenter and has dreams of starting her own business.

Children only get 17 cents, or 11 pence for 12 hours of work.

The conditions during work are very hazardous. Due to a large HIV/AIDS pandemic in Malawi, the children are easily exposed to infection. Other diseases are also present, like GTS (Green Tobacco Sickness),which is a disease that is caused by being exposed to large amounts of nicotine, the chemical that makes you addicted to tobacco. Another danger is physical abuse.

Symptoms of Gts

• Headache, dizziness, or fainting.
• Weakness and wet skin.
• Thirst, nausea, or vomiting.
• Irritability or confusion.
• Oral diphenhydramine is recommended to heal these symptoms

Things that are being done to help

• Countries are passing laws
• Regulations are being made to stop hazardous work
• People are fighting against child trafficking