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Find out moreMalawi's child tobacco pickers exposed to dangerous levels of nicotine
25-February-2010
Children working in the tobacco fields can absorb amounts of nicotine equivalent to smoking up to 50 cigarettes a day.
As the tobacco industry continues to shift its production to developing countries, children are being exposed to hazardous working conditions. It is estimated that more than 78,000 children work on tobacco estates across Malawi, some up to 12 hours a day, many for less than 1.7 US cents an hour and without protective clothing.
Plan’s report 'Hard work, Little pay and Long Hours' revealed that child labourers, some as young as five, are suffering severe physical symptoms from absorbing up to 54 milligrams a day of dissolved nicotine through their skin - the equivalent of 50 average cigarettes.
Since Plan released the report in August last year, the Malawian Government has been constructive in its response and is in discussion with Plan to conduct a national survey to gauge the true scale of the issue and better enforcement of child labour laws.
Watch the video below and follow the links to learn more about child labour in the tobacco fields of Malawi.
Read an opinion piece by Plan International Australia chief executive Ian Wishart that was published in The Age newspaper
Read our media release about child labour in Malawi’s tobacco fields
Read the full report, 'Hard work, Little pay and Long Hours'
