An Australian football company that had outsourced some of its work to India has ended its contract with the Indian sub-contractor amid media reports that alleged child labour was being employed in the production in Jalandhar. According to an official statement by the Football company Sherrin, the step was taken after the reports said that the footballs for the company were being hand-stitched by children as young as 10, for as little as 12 cents a ball, at one of its sub-contractors in Jalandhar, Punjab.
“Sherrin is extremely grateful that this matter has been brought to the company’s attention as it considers the use of child labour in the production of its footballs totally abhorrent,” it said, adding that it has taken the allegations seriously and within 24 hours it had ceased all dealings with its subcontractor in India.
The managing director of Sherrin Chris Lambert said, “We have a zero tolerance policy regarding the use of underage workers, and we are appalled that one of our sub-contractors has used child labour in the stitching of our footballs.”