India’s cotton farms linked to child and bonded labor, supplying global apparel brands: Report

A report by US based rights group Transparentem alleges that several global apparel brands procured cotton from Indian farms employing child and bonded labor. The investigation, conducted between 2022 and 2023, covered 90 farms in Madhya Pradesh, uncovering widespread use of child labor, illegal adolescent labor, and indicators of forced labor. The report highlighted severe abuses in the region, where lax enforcement of child labor laws allows over 10 million children in India to work, primarily in agriculture.

According to Transparentem, the farms investigated supplied cotton to three Indian companies, which in turn sold cotton-based products to global brands such as Adidas, H&M, and The Gap.

While the companies assured they had sourcing arrangements to prevent forced labor, the investigation revealed that many of these farms also sold cotton on the open market, increasing the likelihood that other companies were indirectly sourcing from them.

The report comes after the US Department of Labor’s 2024 list identified child labor in Indian cotton production. Transparentem engaged with international buyers and suppliers in late 2023 to discuss findings and recommend remedial actions, with many responding positively and working on responsive measures.