Gerd Müller, development Minister, plans to campaign against exploitative child labour

development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) wants to move companies to pay fair prices for products from poor countries. "In the coming year, I'm going to start a campaign against exploitative child labour," said Miller of the daily mirror. The fact that at the beginning of the supply chains, in developing countries, ecological and social minimum standards were met, the Europe already for a long time, of course.

"I expect that the German companies are involved here is much stronger," said the CSU politician, adding: "I don't believe that a company would like to justify the chief in the year 2019, publicly, why he makes his products with child labor."

In the coming year will be drawn a first balance sheet, whether the largest German companies can guarantee with over 500 employees, in their supply chains human rights Standards are implemented. "If there is, however, on a voluntary Basis, no progress, we need legal regulations," announced the Minister.

million work in dangerous places

The "International labour organisation" are used, worldwide, 152 million children under the age of five to 17 years of economic work. About ten million of them were kept as slaves and were forced to work in households or in agriculture. 72 million girls and boys working in dangerous places, such as quarries or plantations. A third of the visits out of school.

Fair trade and child labour are also taken into account in the draft of the new Berlin tender and procurement law. Therefore, in the future in the awarding of public contracts to ensure that priority for Fairtrade products. So far the General scheme is to be extended, by groups of goods, such as chocolate and coffee will be defined and certified.

Gerd Müller (CSU), Federal Minister for economic cooperation and development.Photo: Carsten Koall/dpa

economy Senator Ramona Pop (Green) told the daily mirror: "We want to make it easier for companies to observe the guidelines. I expect then that more Fairtrade products are offered.“ Berlin has been certified by the Initiative of TransFair as "fair trade city".

NRW-Minister of labour, criticized German companies

The North Rhine-Westphalia labour Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU), accused the German company, to be there for the child labour in developing countries is partly responsible. Companies that used products that are manufactured by children, are part of the problem, and made themselves complicit, said Laumann at the Start of the action "nicotine children". Child labour must be fought on two fronts, abroad and domestic, required Laumann.

The campaign, "nicotine children" is an Initiative of the "peace band" and is supported by the government in NRW. According to the data of the "peace band" to be exploited by the tobacco industry hundreds of thousands of children. In their work on the plantations, they would be poisoned "highly with nicotine". The substance penetrate in the processing of the plants into the skin of the children and have the same consequences as the consumption of 50 to 60 cigarettes per day. If the tobacco harvest used children could go to school at all, was plagued by tiredness, Nausea and dizziness. (with CBA)

The full Interview with Minister Gerd Müller read in the printed Sunday edition of the Tagesspiegel in E-Paper or on our Apps.

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