An international conference attended by over 120 delegates launched a new partnership to “Eliminate Child Labour: Establishing Best Practice in Tobacco Farming” in 2000. The original partnership of the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) and the International Union of Food and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF) was quickly joined by British American Tobacco and then many other tobacco companies. See the full list of today’s members below. Find out more about how ECLT came to be set up in the History section of this website.

IUF Uniting Food, Farm and Hotel Workers World-Wide

The IUF is a worldwide federation of trade unions representing workers employed in:

• agriculture and plantations
• all stages of tobacco processing
• the preparation and manufacture of food and beverages
• hotels, restaurants catering services and the tourism industry

The IUF is made up of over 320 affiliated trade unions in more than 115 countries. These organisations represent approximately 10 million workers. The IUF is committed to the elimination of all forms of child labour. As 70% of all child labour is in agriculture, one of the main sectors within the IUF’s jurisdiction, the involvement of IUF in this partnership is of paramount importance.

International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA)

The ITGA is an international association for tobacco farmers. It has members in 22 countries, which between them are responsible for growing over 80% of the world’s internationally traded tobacco. It exists to foster cooperation and information sharing between its tobacco growing members and to contribute to the international debate on tobacco issues.

The ITGA recognises that child labour is a serious issue that affects their industry and is determined to address the matter in a responsible and proactive manner. As the key industry body representing tobacco farmers, it plays an important role in developing and rolling out the programmes of the partnership.

British American Tobacco

As the world’s foremost international tobacco group, British American Tobacco is committed to its wider role as corporate citizen with an obligation to conduct its businesses responsibly in the communities where it operates.

British American Tobacco is the only international tobacco group with a significant involvement in tobacco growing. Through partnerships with some 250,000 farmers in 22 countries, around 480,000 tonnes of tobacco is grown each year.

The company does not employ children in its operations and is committed to the principles of protecting children from child labour exploitation, believing that their development as well as that of their communities and countries is best served through education, not child labour.

As such, British American Tobacco aims to be an important, responsible and constructive member of the unique partnership.

Alliance One International, Inc

Alliance One International, Inc, was formed in 2005 through the merger of DIMON Incorporated and Standard Commercial Corporation and is one of the world’s largest leaf tobacco dealers, employing more than 22,000 people. The Company purchases, processes, stores, sells and ships tobacco grown in every major tobacco-producing region of the world and sells processed leaf tobacco to cigarette manufacturers in approximately 90 countries. The Company is committed to a comprehensive programme of social and corporate responsibility in all countries where it operates, including a firm and continuing opposition to exploitive child labor. Alliance One strongly supports the objectives of the Foundation and is pleased to contribute to its efforts.

Altria’s tobacco companies

As part of the Altria family of companies, Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and John Middleton do not engage in or condone the unlawful employment or exploitation of children in the workplace, nor do they condone forced labour. Altria endorses appropriate national and international initiatives to establish and enforce requirements for a minimum working age and standards against forced labour and share the concerns of international agencies and others regarding the circumstances of forced labour and the unlawful use or exploitation of children in the agricultural sector. Altria’s tobacco companies are committed to working with other stakeholders toward practical solutions that address the specific labour circumstances of the agricultural sector.

Imperial Tobacco

Imperial Tobacco is a leading international company which manufactures, markets, distributes and sells a comprehensive range of cigarettes, tobaccos, cigars, rolling papers and tubes. As a responsible company the Group is committed to high standards of conduct and performance. Imperial Tobacco’s policy is to ensure that the Group and its subsidiaries do not employ children. Imperial is committed to working with suppliers to encourage their compliance with international standards on child labour and to working with appropriate bodies to support the progressive elimination of child labour, in the tobacco sector. Imperial Tobacco strongly supports the objectives of the ECLT Foundation.

Japan Tobacco Inc

JT Group, as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tobacco products, is committed to being a part of the solution to the issue of child labour through the work of the ECLT Foundation. It is our belief that children have a right to education and, as a corporate citizen, it is our responsibility to help make this happen.

Philip Morris International Inc

Philip Morris International Inc (PMI) is the leading international tobacco company, with seven of the world’s top 15 brands, including Marlboro. PMI has more than 77,000 employees and its products are sold in approximately 160 countries. In 2009, the company held an estimated 15.4% share of the total international cigarette market outside of the U.S., or 26.0% excluding the People’s Republic of China and the U.S.

PMI is working to eliminate child labour in tobacco. PMI is committed to preventing child labour and the use of forced labour in its supply chain including on tobacco farms and in factories that manufacture goods and materials that we purchase. In addition, PMI is funding charitable projects, in cooperation with governments and NGO’s, in more than 20 countries around the world to eliminate child labour in tobacco and improve the livelihoods of tobacco farm families. PMI’s programmes focus on eliminating the root causes of child labour by improving both the quality of and access to education for children of tobacco farmers and by improving the living conditions in tobacco growing communities. The company funds the construction and renovation of schools in tobacco growing communities, as well as funding training programs for teachers and by providing scholarships, textbooks and school supplies. As well, PMI’s programmes are aimed at addressing food security, incomes, water and sanitation and environmental stewardship, all of which have a systemic impact on child labour. PMI’s support for and participation in the ELCT Foundation is an additional important step in furthering Philip Morris International’s commitment to contributing to practical and meaningful ways of progressively eliminating unlawful or exploitative use of children in labour markets.

Scandinavian Tobacco Group

Scandinavian Tobacco Group manufactures and sells cigars and smoking tobacco to smokers all over the world. Scandinavian Tobacco Group is the world’s largest player in the field of pipe tobacco, holds a shared no. 1 position within the world of cigars, and has a strong position within fine-cut in Scandinavia and the US. Scandinavian Tobacco Group is headquartered in Denmark and has approximately 10,000 employees operating internationally. Scandinavian Tobacco Group has manufacturing sites in 8 countries, sales companies in 15 countries, and sells its products in more than 120 countries worldwide. One of the key elements of the Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s overall social responsibility program is the campaign against child labour in tobacco growing.

Sunel Ticaret Turk A.S.

Sunel is a family-owned tobacco company founded in 1939 and is one of Turkey’s oldest leaf tobacco suppliers. Sunel produces Oriental leaf tobacco by contracting local farmers, processes and stores sun cured tobacco in the most modern premises of the world in Oriental Type tobacco processing.
Sunel’s current headquarters are in Izmir, Turkey. The company also carries out contracting , buying and processing activities in  Kyrgyzstan  with CJSC Sunel Tobacco, a contracting operation in  Tajikistan also under the name Sunel Tobacco, and in Bulgaria a under joint venture with Silversun Bulgaria EOOD. Over the years, Sunel has built its reputation on being a reliable supplier of Oriental and semi-oriental leaf tobacco. Sunel’s contract farming concept was set up to monitor and guide local farmers helping to promote socially and environmentally responsible farming. Sunel is very sensitive about these issues and included a special clause in farmers’ contracts to ensure no children under limit age are employed in tobacco production or deprived from education access. Also, Sunel provides financial and moral support to tobacco producers for physical and intellectual development of children in tobacco production areas. They will support the role of ECLT Foundation in Kyrgyzstan where they work extensively on this issue. 

Swedish Match

Swedish Match manufactures and distributes tobacco products as well as matches and lighters. The company does not manufacture cigarettes. Its largest product area is for smokefree tobacco products, such as snus. Its largest market in terms of company sales is Scandinavia. Swedish Match’s Code of Conduct, established in 2004, is the foundation for the Company’s position in areas related to Corporate Responsibility, including human rights, child labour, supplier contracts, and issues specific to tobacco products. Swedish Match’s commitment to social responsibility and environmental issues is supported by the Group’s core values: Communication, Teamwork, Trust, Innovation, Recognition and Growth.

Universal Corporation

Universal Corporation is the world’s largest independent leaf tobacco merchant. The Richmond, Virginia-based company purchases, processes, and sells tobacco grown globally and employs approximately 26,000 people in over 40 countries.

Universal is committed to a policy of social responsibility in all areas in which it operates and strives to demonstrate good corporate citizenship. Accordingly, the company is concerned about illegal and inappropriate use of child labour. Universal does not employ child labour in violation of any local laws or contrary to accepted employment practices. In addition, the company works to encourage growers to adopt the same principles.

With these commitments, Universal looks forward to being a responsible member of the Foundation and anticipates helping contribute to the elimination of child labour in tobacco growing communities around the world.