Background articles

Working conditions

Child labour: the truth behind cigarettes

Zwei Mädchen (11 und 12 Jahre alt) beim Unkraut Jäten in einem Tabakfeld. Nellore, Indien, 2008. Copyright: Marty Otañez

The use of child labour in the cultivation of tobacco is very dangerous and is prohibited worldwide. Despite this, there are children working on plantations in all the major tobacco-producing countries. Many contract the green tobacco sickness as a result of their work on the fields.