Child labor in the weaving regions of the world is a huge issue. In the USA and Canada we typically charge headlong at the issue like this and while meaning well we can often do harm.

Rugman.com has joined Care and Fair to fight against illegal child labor in the carpet production areas of India, Nepal and Pakistan. We chose Care and Fair because we are passionate about this but we want to be wise in our response.

Situations in third world countries need a measured and thought out response. We think that a buying boycott does not show favorable results in the struggle against child labor. It can very often cause even more misery among the families and specially the children. The reasons are complex in the hand knotted and weaving Industry. Child labor is often not due to child exploitation or hatred but it’s a deeply structural problem. Families have to all work to put food on the table. Sometimes these are loving situations and there are really no alternatives. We concluded that we have to have a measured response and do something practical that fitted the reality on the ground. Lets not boycott and do more harm lets find a program that works to improve the conditions on the ground. Care and Fair is a practical and realistic organization that works at a fundamental level to work against the exploitation of children by providing education and health care.

At Rugman.com we have a deep appreciation of the work of CARE & FAIR because it builds and maintains schools, kindergartens, apprenticeships and hospitals for basic medical treatment in the carpet centers of India, Nepal and Pakistan. (Iran does not have child labor problems) Care and Fair has been instrumental in donating over 2,7 million Euro to fight child labor and to improve the health and welfare of weavers.
http://www.care-fair.org/index.html