A recent BBC investigation has uncovered troubling connections between luxury perfume brands and child labor in their jasmine supply chains. The investigation focused on last summer’s perfume supply chains and found that children were involved in picking jasmine used by suppliers to Lancôme and Aerin Beauty, two major beauty companies.
Despite claims of zero tolerance for child labor by all luxury perfume brands involved, the investigation revealed that children were indeed employed in the jasmine fields. The jasmine, sourced from Egypt, constitutes a significant portion of the world’s supply and is a crucial ingredient in perfumes.
Industry insiders have attributed the prevalence of child labor to budget constraints imposed by the conglomerates that own many luxury brands. These constraints lead to low wages for jasmine pickers, compelling them to involve their children in the labor.
The investigation also shed light on the flaws in the auditing systems used by the perfume industry to monitor their supply chains. UN Special Rapporteur Tomoya Obokata expressed concern over the evidence presented by the BBC, including undercover footage from Egyptian jasmine fields.
In Egypt’s jasmine region, families like Heba’s wake up before dawn to begin picking the flowers, with children as young as five joining the labor. The low wages paid for jasmine picking, coupled with inflation in Egypt, push many families below the poverty line.
Despite regulations prohibiting children under 15 from working in Egypt, the BBC witnessed children working on farms, including those directly owned by factories involved in the jasmine trade.
The factories export jasmine oil to international fragrance houses, which in turn supply perfume companies like Lancôme and Aerin Beauty. However, industry insiders assert that the real power lies with the perfume companies, which set tight budgets for fragrance houses, putting pressure on wages and contributing to the prevalence of child labour.
In response to the investigation, perfume companies emphasized their commitment to ethical sourcing practices. However, the lack of oversight in their supply chains raises concerns about the effectiveness of their measures.
The investigation has sparked calls for greater corporate accountability and regulatory measures to address child labor in global supply chains. While consumers may unknowingly contribute to this issue by purchasing luxury perfumes, the responsibility ultimately lies with corporations and regulatory bodies to ensure ethical sourcing practices are upheld.
