Live World Cup matches will be a grim reminder…

The soccer bug has caught Tanzanians like others worldwide while they wait for the World Cup to kick-off in Japan and South Korea today.  The cheering millions watching across the globe will however be oblivious to the plight of children who toiled day and night to make the footballs used in this tournament.

The Chairperson of the Global March Against Child Labour organisation has stated that the balls to be used at this mega event will not be free of the tinge of child labour. This organization says that children as young as six spent long hours stitching footballs to be used for the World Cup, despite promises from FIFA that only child labour-free products would be used at the event.

Reports prepared earlier this year on the working conditions in the football manufacturing industries of India, Pakistan and China indicated gross violations of the rules. An ''independent researcher'' who visited households where contracts were sub-let in the Sialkot district of Pakistan found children ''involved in stitching Coca Cola and Adidas balls, both of which are major sponsors of the FIFA World Cup.'' It is claimed that even balls made by reputed companies are stitched by children.

Practically the nature of such work often causes the needle to pierce the tiny hands of children and after blood drips on the football being manually stitched, this is promptly wiped off while children are compelled to continue work immediately thereafter. The children are paid between Shs. 200/- and Shs. 330/- for stitching one ball that ultimately sells for over Shs. 60,000/-

Under the circumstances one would expect FIFA to ensure that no children are employed in the football industry and other FIFA-licensed goods production. Labour rights enshrined in the contract between FIFA and sporting goods companies supposedly have a clause to prohibit child labour but when it comes to reality this clause is normally breached. One wonders why FIFA does not ensure an independent inspection system in countries from which companies source FIFA-licensed goods.

FIFA can even compel sports companies to disclose their production sites and publish independently verified reports to prove that goods are made in compliance with FIFA guidelines. For example information is lacking about the way many other items other than footballs such as gloves, shoes, spats etc. are made for the FIFA event.

The exploitation of child labour for manufacturing footballs is only one example wherein circumstances compel the young to seek money despite harsh terms and conditions. We have many other examples of child exploitation around the world and Tanzania is no exception. Tanzania was commended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) last week for commitment shown to fight against the worst forms of child labour in the country but the situation as pointed by the Minister for Labour, Youth Development and Sports, Professor Juma Kapuya is not that good. He said that about 4.8 million children between the ages of five and seven out of a total of about 12 million children in the country are reported to be out of school engaged as child labourers.

While local efforts against child labour are stepped up, the World Cup despite all the grandioise that is associated with it presents a grim reminder of existent double standards. Among those who will celebrate and watch will be active campaigners against child abuse despite the event being tainted with child exploitation. If FIFA has promised that only child labour-free products would be used in the event, why is nobody questioning FIFA? Probably because the easier and comfortable option is to sit back and enjoy the tournament. The irony is that in the fervour and excitement of each match there will be a grim reminder of exploited child labour!