Child and forced labor are serious problems. PM USA works with suppliers, international agencies and others to help address these issues.
At Philip Morris USA, we recognize that child labor and forced labor are serious problems:
- We do not engage in or condone the unlawful employment or exploitation of children in the workplace, nor do we engage in or condone forced labor.
- We endorse appropriate national and international initiatives to establish and enforce both requirements for a minimum working age and standards against forced labor.
- As a major 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 in both developed and developing countries around the world.
We work with our suppliers to increase their understanding of the issues of child labor and forced labor and communicate to suppliers our expectations that they comply with applicable laws.
For example, provisions of PM USA's Child and Forced Labor Policy are articulated in supplier contracts. Additionally, PM USA engages with our suppliers on these issues through forums, information sessions and business meetings.
Working on our own and with third-parties, we have implemented certain audit procedures to help suppliers comply with this policy. We work with third-party quality assurance suppliers to audit international factories that may be selected to produce our consumer incentive items. When an audit reveals instances of child labor, we would not source from those factories.
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As a major purchaser of domestic and offshore tobacco, we work with international agencies and others toward practical solutions that address the specific circumstances of the agricultural sector.
PM USA is a member of the international, Geneva-based ECLT. The ECLT brings together businesses, growers and labor with the purpose of ending the 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 contributes to the elimination of child labor by:
- developing independent research to produce an objective picture of the conditions and level of child labor in tobacco growing;
- supporting and funding local and community-based projects;
- establishing and sharing best practice and lessons learned.
