Child Slaves Rescued From Leather Shop.

Forty-four child laborers were rescued from a leather goods shop in New Delhi where they were forced to work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions with routine beatings.

The children, most around the age of 10, were reportedly beaten and kept in a small room at a leather shop with little ventilation. They were forced to work 16-17 hour days assembling leather handbags, purses, and shoes. Most of the children were trafficked across the country to work at the shop illegally.

The task force for the elimination of child labor conducted the raid, rescuing 44 children and arresting employers. Four employers responsible for the abuse have been taken into custody and will be prosecuted under India’s child labor laws.

The leather industry is riddled with corruption. Workers in countries like India are forced to work for just cents a day handling leather goods soaked in toxins and over 90% of tannery workers suffer from some job related disease. Not only that, leather plants are continuously dumping toxic chemicals into public waterways and spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere putting everyone at risk.

Manufacturing leather and leather goods is a dirty business. Most people agree that no one should be forced to work in the leather industry, especially not a 10 year old child.