SEVERAL SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS HAVE RECENTLY COME UNDER FIRE FOR NOT STOPPING BUSINESSES THAT PUT CHILDREN TO WORK IN GREWLING CONDITIONS, OFTEN FOR LITTLE OR NO PAY.
ON OF THESE SITUATION INVOLVES THE PRODUCTION OF SOCCER BALLS IN PAKISTAN.
BRIAN JENKINS HAS DETAILS.
THE POPULARITY OF SOCCER HAS SOARED IN THE UNITED STATES OVER THE PAST DECADE, ESPECIALLY AMONG KIDS.
THEY AND THEIR PARENTS PROBABLY WEREN'T AWARE THAT MANY OF THE SOCCER BALLS THEY KICK AROUND WERE STITCHED TOGETHER BY CHILDREN IN PAKISTAN.
KIDS WHO WORK AN AVERAGE OF 10 HOURS A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK, AND HAVE NO TIME FOR PLAY.
ONE REGION IN EASTERN PAKISTAN PRODUCES 35 MILLION SOCCER BALLS PER YEAR.
FIVE MILLION FOR THE U.S. MARKET, AND LABOR EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT UP TO ONE-QUARTER OF THE WORKERS INVOLVED ARE CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND 14, SOME 3000 CHILDREN IN ALL.
"NO MORE WILL WE AND OUR CHILDREN PLAY WITH THE LABOR OF YOUR CHILDREN AND THAT IS THE PROMISE WHICH WE WILL KEEP."
A COALITION OF GROUPS RECENTLY KICKED OFF A CAMPAIGN IN WASHINGTON CALLED "FOULBALL" TO TARGET PEOPLE WHO IMPORT, SELL AND USE HAND-STITCHED SOCCER BALLS FROM PAKISTAN.
ONE PRIME TARGET IS THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS, OR FIFA.
CRITICIZED FOR PUTTING ITS SEAL ON BALLS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN STITCHED BY CHILDREN, FIFA IS NOW WORKING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION TO DRAFT A NEW CODE FOR MANUFACTURERS.
"WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE GOOD NAME OF FIFA, THE GOOD NAME OF SOCCER IS UPHELD. BUT FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT IS TO ERADICATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE CHIDLREN WHO ARE BEING TERRIBLY EXPLOITED. IT HAS TO STOP."
THE AMERICAN YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATION HAS ADVISED ITS MEMBERS TO REQUEST BALLS NOT MADE BY CHILDREN.
NIKE AND REEBOK, SMALL IMPORTERS OF SOCCER BALLS BUT BIG NAMES IN SPORTS, ARE TAKING STEPS TO MAKE SURE THEIR CONTRACTORS DON'T USE CHILD LABOR.
AND THE SOCCER INDUSTRY COUNCIL IS PLANNING TO HELP PAY FOR AWARENESS AND INSPECTION PROGRAMS IN PAKISTAN.
"OUR GOAL IS FOR A LONG-TERM CHANGE, IN THE WAY THAT THE ECONOMY WORKS, AT LEAST IN THE SOCCER BALL INDUSTRY IN PAKISTAN, TO INSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT GOING TO BE USED."
BUT TOP LABOR OFFICIALS SAY IT'S ALSO VITAL TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM HAVING TO SEEK OTHER MEANS OF SURVIVAL LIKE PROSTITUTION OR BEGGING.
"WE ARE WORKING WITH BANGLADESH, PAKISTAN AND OTHER POOR NATIONS TO BUILD SCHOOLS, TO MAKE SURE THESE YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT OF THE FACTORIES."
AND SOMEDAY, PERHAPS, ONTO SOCCER FIELDS.
BRIAN JENKINS, CNN, NEW YORK.