However, campaigners say the seasonal nature of work in India's textile industry, the advent of fast fashion and the competitiveness of the business have helped create conditions leading to the exploitation of workers.
Industry experts have warned that global retailers' efforts to clean supply chains of slave labour and improve labour conditions will have little#
"There is child labour not just because of a supply-pull factor, but also a demand-push factor," Gupta said.
"The only way to resolve the issue is to sensitise everyone: businesses, workers and consumers. It can be done," she said. (SH)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India