Child Labour and Fairtrade in Pakistan
SUSSED and the Bridgend Fairtrade Partnership are delighted to announce that on Monday, July 21st, we will be joined in the Green Room by journalist and Fairtrade Wales volunteer, Muhammad Younas, for a presentation and discussion on the prevalence of child labour in the developing world, and whether there's anything that can be done about it. 

Using Pakistan and the football manufacturing industry as a case study, Younas will examine how a country that effectively made it unconstitutional to make children below the age of 14 work in hazardous conditions, currently has an estimated 3.8 million workers in the 5-14 age group, many of whom are being denied their basic human rights under the Charter of the United Nations. 

With billions of eyes all looking to Brazil and the Football World Cup this summer (and the often lavishly paid players, coaches and dignitaries that are involved), the discussion about whether it is acceptable for a small child being paid around US$0.07 to stitch a football that will sell for around $30, has rarely been more poignant. Furthermore, with so many internal and external factors making the road to change in Pakistan so long and tenuous, as Younas will explain, perhaps the party best placed to make a difference is actually (as it so often is) us, the consumer... 

Younas is a thoughful speaker, passionate about FairTrade and deeply knowledgeable about the region. We love to see as many of you as possible there, as anybody is invited to join us for what promises to be a relaxed and interesting afternoon discussion.  

The presentation will take place at 1.30pm in the Green Room (upstairs in SUSSED), and is open to all, free of charge. Fairly traded refreshments will, of course, be available.