Skip to main content

Kinder egg makers face child labour allegations

| Crime and security

Italian confectionery group Ferrero said it has launched an investigation into allegations that Romanian children as young as six were making toys for its Kinder chocolate eggs.

The statement came after British newspaper, The Sun, reported this week that impoverished families in Romania were working long hours for little pay to make the toys at home.

The paper said it interviewed a family of five - including three children aged between six and 11 - who described being paid 20 lei ($4.70) for every 1 000 finished eggs they delivered to a factory in the northwestern town of Carei.

“We are appalled and deeply concerned by the allegations of unacceptable practice in Romania,” Ferrero said in a statement.

“(We) have launched an immediate and thorough investigation to establish all the facts as a matter of urgency.”

 Romanian prosecutors said in an online statement they were also looking into the report.

The family interviewed by The Sun said they received materials to assemble the toys by a sub-contractor for Romexa SA - one of Ferrero's suppliers.

“This is the first I have heard of it but I will find out who is responsible and the factories involved will have their contracts terminated if this is found to be true,” Romexa area manager Daniel Muresan told The Sun.

Around 168 million children - one in 10 globally - work in supply chains around the world, including in agriculture, manufacturing and construction, according to the International Labour Organization.

Ferrero said its code of conduct banned child labour and all suppliers were subject to regular independent inspections.

The company confirmed it worked with Romexa and that the sub-contractor had passed a strict audit in May.

Reuters

Pin It

Related Articles

By: News24 The police have noted with concern a recent spate of shoplifting incidents. Shop owners and assistants are urged to adhere to the following safety hints.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says it has noticed a spike in schemes and scams that leave South Africans out of pocket, including con artists impersonating companies, investment and financial scams and pyramid schemes.
By:  Nick Wilson – News24 Shoprite, SA’s largest retailer, says it has dealt a major blow against crime over the past three years, securing over 1 700 years of prison time – including 24 life sentences – for criminals.
Despite the continued reports about the tough economic environment facing South African consumers and the fact that disposable income is steadily decreasing, South Africans are still enjoying Black Friday sales.
The South African fraud landscape is becoming increasingly risky as fraudsters and scammers look to target individuals with highly sophisticated scams in an environment where it is becoming increasingly difficult for lawmakers and authorities to b...