Gap pulls clothing after Indian child labour report
US clothing retailer Gap on Sunday withdrew from sale garments that were allegedly produced by Indian child labour, a British newspaper reported after conducting an undercover expose.
The Observer said Sunday that its undercover investigation discovered Indian children as young as 10 years old were being forced to work for a Gap subcontractor in the Shahpur Jat area of New Delhi.
The goods were destined for the Christmas market in branches of Gap Kids in Europe and the United States, the paper claimed.
In reaction, anti-poverty campaign group War On Want appealed for independent regulation of the clothing sector -- much of which benefits from cheap production in Asia.
In the newspaper report, child workers described long hours of unpaid work, threats and beatings, while producing hand-stitched blouses that would have each retailed at 20 pounds (28.5 euros, 41 dollars).
In response to the findings, Gap released a statement saying it was "unacceptable" for children to produce its clothing.
"At Gap, we firmly believe that under no circumstances is it acceptable for children to produce or work on garments," Gap said in a statement published in the newspaper.
"It is clear that one of our vendors violated this agreement, and a full investigation is under way.
"After learning of this situation, we immediately took steps to stop this work order and to prevent the product from ever being sold in our stores. We are also convening a meeting of our suppliers where we will reinforce our prohibition on child labour."
It was not immediately clear how many items of clothing were withdrawn on Sunday.
A 10-year-old boy, Amitosh, told The Observer he had been working for free in a back-street sweatshop for four months -- after his parents were paid a fee for him.
"I've been told I have to work off the fee the owner paid for me so I can go home, but I am working for free," he was quoted as saying.
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