End farm child labour, says union

18 June 2001



End farm ‘child labour’, says union

By FWi staff

FARMERS must stop using their children as child labour to help with farm work, claims the Transport and General Workers Union.

The TGWU, which represents farm workers, has called for child care facilities to be provided for farm children, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Youngsters should be kept away from working areas for their own safety, says the union.

The Telegraph says the move could threaten the personal freedom in the countryside.

The TGWU also called for the age at which children can drive tractors to be raised from the current level of 13.

This follows a report form the Health and Safety Executive which states that 44 children have died in farm accidents in the past 10 years.

• Farm safety officials target children, FWi, 15 June 2001
  
• The Daily Telegraph, 18 June 2001, page 8

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