Helmut Scholz, Member of the European Parliament for DIE LINKE. (GUE/NGL) in the parliamentary debatte on child labour in mines in Madagascar, Strasbourg, February 13th.
"While we talk, there are 11.000 children breathing the dusty air of mica mines in Madagascar. Some of them are just five years old. They endure most unhealthy, unsafe working conditions in hopes to earn a living for their families. How much longer can we ignore the fate of children mining mica for our companies?
As the second highest importer of mica from Madagascar, the EU - and in particular Estonia - must make efforts to establish that our companies process only ethically sourced materials. We needed binding legislation on due diligence.
The Left believes we must implement Fair Trade policies that encourage the trade of ethical products, striving to fulfil the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We urge the Commission to start a specific dialogue with China and other important importers of mica, and with the government of Madagascar, to work together to tackle and eliminate the exploitation of child labour in Madagascar by 2030. "
