Sherrin may get the boot over alleged use of illegal child labour

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Sherrin may get the boot over alleged use of illegal child labour

By Ben Doherty

FOOTBALL maker Sherrin could be sacked as ball supplier to the AFL after being hit with a breach of agreement by the league over its alleged use of illegal child labour.

But the AFL may continue to use Auskick balls hand-stitched by poor Indian children to teach Australian children football.

The Sherrin factory in Scoresby.

The Sherrin factory in Scoresby.Credit: Justin McManus

After revelations by The Saturday Age that Indian children were working up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week stitching Sherrin footballs for 12¢ a ball, the AFL has refused to comment on whether it will recall or stop distributing balls made by the company in India.

The AFL has about 170,000 children aged 5 to 12 involved in its nationwide Auskick program. All Auskick participants, when they sign up, are given a synthetic Auskick football. Most are hand-stitched in India.

An AFL spokesman said: ''We understand Sherrin is investigating these very serious claims and will continue to provide us with information as it comes to hand.

''The AFL has strict contractual regulations with licensees and in order to maintain these regulations we have formally provided Sherrin with a notice of breach of agreement while these investigations are ongoing.''

The AFL's agreement with Sherrin contains a specific provision prohibiting the use of child labour. It has issued Sherrin with a ''please explain'' notice over its use of child labourers.

The AFL is waiting on the results of Sherrin's own investigations, but a termination of Sherrin's contract as official ball supplier to the league is possible.

An Age investigation found more than 50 homes in the industrial city of Jalandhar, in India's Punjab, where children as young as seven were stitching sports balls.

Child stitchers can end up with chronic back injuries, septic hand wounds, weakened eyesight, as well as depression and other psychological disorders. Children are paid seven rupees, about 12¢, per finished ball.

Daniel Mackey, program manager with Fair Trade Australia, said: ''We are not surprised that child labour has been found, once again, making sports balls. But it [Sherrin] is an iconic brand and it's very disappointing our market here in Australia is supporting this practice.''

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