The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has warned tobacco growers against employing children in tobacco production, saying the practice is illegal and poses serious risks to young people’s health, education as well as their future.
The warning follows concerns raised during the ongoing crop assessment exercise in Mashonaland Central, where some tobacco growers highlighted labour shortages at the reaping and curing stages.
TIMB Acting Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Matsvaire, said children under the age of 18 were prohibited from working in tobacco fields, particularly in hazardous tasks associated with tobacco growing and processing.
“As a responsible corporate, TIMB recognises the importance of creating a safe and healthy working environment for all stakeholders in our supply chain,” said Matsvaire
He said child labour remained a challenge both locally and globally, with far-reaching consequences for children’s wellbeing.
“Child labour violates basic human rights and undermines the health, education and future of affected children. No child should be subjected to any form of labour that deprives them of their fundamental rights and freedoms,” he said.
Matsvaire said TIMB was intensifying efforts to eliminate child labour through strict monitoring of the tobacco value chain, engagement with growers and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
“We continue to strengthen monitoring systems and work closely with farmers, auction floors and partners to ensure compliance with national laws and international labour standards,” he said.
TIMB urged tobacco growers to plan in advance and source suitable adult labour to address labour shortages, while ensuring that all farm workers are treated safely, fairly and ethically, in line with industry regulations.
The board is spearheading initiatives through the Tobacco Industry Working Group on Child Labour (TWCL), a multi-stakeholder platform bringing together tobacco companies, growers’ associations, auction floors, Government agencies, unions and civil society organisations.
Led by TIMB, the TWCL seeks to accelerate collective action to eliminate child labour in the tobacco sector, promote adherence to national and international labour standards and encourage collaboration and sharing of best practices.
Since its establishment in 2021, the TWCL has recorded key milestones, including baseline assessments of child labour risks, development of a list of hazardous tasks for children under 18, adoption of an Agricultural Labour Practices Code and strengthened partnerships with local and international organisations.
TIMB will continue working with stakeholders to educate farmers on minimum labour standards and ensure the complete eradication of child labour in the tobacco value chain.
