Paving the way against child labour

An innovative three-year partnership between stone paving supplier Marshalls and UNICEF is all about tackling child labour in the stone quarries in Rajasthan, in India.

Traditionally children have been exploited in this stone quarrying sector in Northern India, something that Marshalls wanted to help to combat which is why it chose to partner with UNICEF . Marshalls, has pledged to donate £1 to UNICEF-supported projects from the sale of every square metre of its ethically produced ‘Fairstone’ natural stone paving product. This funding will go directly to projects supporting children in Rajasthan’s quarrying communities.

India is one of the world’s largest raw stone producers, accounting for more than 11 per cent of the world's total exports and more than 27 per cent of stones mined worldwide. Every year approximately 280,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone is shipped to the UK and often it is used to decorate driveways and patios.

UNICEF estimates that approximately 20 per cent of India’s mine workers are children. Many toil strenuously for more than 10 hours each day in dangerous and filthy conditions with some earning as little as £1.50 (150 rupees) a day.

Since 2006 Marshalls has worked hard to raise consumer and industry awareness of child labour in India’s stone quarrying sector. As part of its commitment to the Global Reporting Initiative, an international drive that promotes sustainability reporting as a way for businesses to become more sustainable, the company has published the steps it has taken to abolish the use of child labour in its supply chains.

The Halifax-based firm has also undertaken a number of measures to embed children’s rights in its business practices, and to ensure its sandstone products are ethically sourced and produced. This includes signing up to Children’s Rights and Business Principles the first comprehensive set of principles which UNICEF helped to develop as a guide on actions companies can take to support children’s rights.

Marshalls is raising funds in aid of UNICEF-backed projects helping to transform children’s live for the better. The partnership is expected to benefit 10,000 children in 50 villages located in the Kota district of the country’s Rajasthan state.

These are stone quarrying communities where UNICEF is working to bolster child protection systems and safeguard the rights of vulnerable children. It is also supporting the development of education projects and a health referral system to address the health needs and problems of children in these areas.

“Child labour is a persistent, unacceptable and complex global issue”, says Chris Harrop, Group Marketing Director of Sustainability at Marshalls. “Despite many British consumers being more aware of the need to choose ethically sourced products I doubt that many people realise that an issue even exists when they are choosing Indian Sandstone for their garden makeover.

“This is why we are urging customers to stop and think about how the products they are choosing for their patio have been produced and opt for “Fairstone” products which will help play a part in transforming the lives of vulnerable children in India’s poorest stone quarrying communities.

“We want people to be able to buy “Fairstone” with a clear conscience. By choosing Marshalls Fairstone you can be sure everything possible has been done to ensure child labour has not been used in its production. Our customers can feel proud that they have become part of the solution to this appalling issue.”

David Bull, UNICEF UK’s Executive Director said: “Marshalls is putting child rights at the forefront of its business practice and the Fairstone paving stone is a fantastic way of enabling their customers to play a part in tackling the reprehensible practice of children labouring in quarries.”