We work with suppliers, international agencies and others to help address these issues.
- We do not condone the unlawful employment or exploitation of children in the workplace, nor do we condone forced labor.
- We endorse appropriate national and international initiatives to establish and enforce requirements for a minimum working age and standards against forced labor.
- As a purchaser of agricultural products, we share the concerns of international agencies and others regarding the circumstances of forced labor and the unlawful use or exploitation of children in the agricultural sector.
John Middleton works with many suppliers to increase their understanding of the issues of child labor and forced labor. We fulfill these objectives in a number of ways including:
- We engage with suppliers on these issues through forums, information sessions and business meetings.
- We work with third-party quality assurance suppliers to audit the overseas processing facilities of tobacco suppliers.
As a purchaser of offshore tobacco, we work with international agencies and others toward practical solutions that address the specific labor circumstances of the agricultural sector.
Middleton is a member of the international, Geneva-based
ECLT Foundation. The ECLT Foundation brings together businesses, growers and labor representatives with the purpose of ending the inappropriate use of child labor in tobacco growing and providing children with an upbringing that gives them the best chance to succeed in all aspects of life.
The ECLT Foundation focuses on:
- developing independent research to produce an objective picture of the level of inappropriate child labor in tobacco growing;
- supporting and funding local and community-based projects; and
- establishing and sharing best practices and lessons learned.
