Bonded Child Labour & Rug Making, Explained

Bonded Child Labour & Rug Making, Explained

There are some beautifully executed Persian rugs and Oriental rugs made in workshops noted for their skill and expertise, however, at the opposite end of the spectrum bonded child labour is still a big problem in the rug and carpet making industry.

In 2006 the International Labour Organisation announced that there was 28 million fewer child labourers than there was 4 years previous. This article will explain what bonded child labour is and how we can help to bring this statistic down further.

What is Bonded Child Labour?



There are three types of bonded child labour that exist in India, Pakistan and Nepal.

The first is when a child inherits a debt carried by his or her parents.

The second is when a parent uses their child or children as collateral for a loan.

Thirdly a child worker can enter into bondage to their employer by requesting an advance on future wages they expect to earn.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 218 million children worldwide, from 5 to 17 years old, are engaged in some kind of labour, with 126 million children engaged in the worst forms of child labour. The largest number are employed in the Farming and Agriculture Industry



Are all Oriental Hand knotted Rugs made with Bonded Child Labour?



Not all Rug producing countries have problems with Child labour; in some instances children are positively encouraged to learn the art of rug making and hand knotting from a very early age.

The fundamental difference with this situation is that the children are taught by family members in the home environment.

The beautiful rugs of the Turkomen, Qashgai, lori and numerous other Pastoral nomadic Tribes living in Iran, Iraq, and along the border regions of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and across to Azerbaijan are fine examples of Traditional Tribal Rug making that does not involve the use of any form of Bonded Labour.

There are some beautifully executed fine Persian rugs and carpets made in workshops noted for their skill and expertise. Inexperienced children could not possibly make these rugs.

India, Pakistan, and Nepal are the countries where bonded child labour is a real problem in the rug making and carpet manufacturing industry.

Organisations such as UNICEF, FREE THE CHILDREN AND OXFAM, to name but a few of the excellent agencies working in these countries, are helping to bring peoples attention to this evil traffic in child suffering. A number of labelling systems have been introduced in these countries to help free these unfortunate children.

Although many Rug sellers ensure they have sound ethical policies relating to Bonded Child Labour, RUGMARK is a dedicated organisation, which has taken the prevention of Bonded Child Labour a step further.

Who are Rugmark?

RugMark is a global, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing a better life for thousands of children working illegally in the rug industry across South Asia.

So far, RugMark has rescued over 3,000 children from working the looms, and prevented thousands more from entering the factories. Those rescued from working are reunited with their families, or taken to live at a RugMark-sponsored rehabilitation centre.

By buying rugs and carpets bearing the RugMark label, you can be sure under-age children working illegally did not make them.

Find out more about Rugmark at http://www.rugmark.org



How can I avoid buying a rug made using Bonded Child Labour?

In some countries the labelling system does not apply, therefore the customer must rely on the integrity of the person selling the rug.

The best way to avoid a rug made with bonded labour is to buy a good quality rug.

The rug producer using cheap, flat looking wool, garish dirty looking colours (dyes) is more likely to use the cheapest labour which is unskilled or inexperienced children to make them.

One of the myths of the rug industry, and a comment we receive time and time again, is that consumers believe that finely knotted rugs are made by children because only they have the little fingers that can tie such tiny knots.

This statement could not be further from the truth. Only a master weaver with years of experience can produce works of art that show symmetry of design, an understanding of harmonizing and balancing colours, even tension across the rug and a pride in the execution of their art.

It won't cost that much more money, if any extra at all, to buy a handmade rug or carpet made by a skilled adult weaver who has taken years to learn their art and is supporting his or her family by earning a descent wage for their labour and skill.

In 2006, the International Labour Organization published ta repor called 'The End of Child Labour: Within Reach'. There was one very special fact noted in this report: "today, there are 28 million fewer child labourers than there were four years ago!" This means that the work you are doing, we are all doing, to stop child labour, is truly creating positive change. But there is still much more to be done.