An investigation by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights revealed that children aged between 13 and 17 were working at a Som Group distillery in Madhya Pradesh. These minors were found filling and packing liquor bottles and working long hours. The investigation, which took place on June 15, reported that 58 children were working illegally at the factory. Some of the children showed signs of chemical burns on their hands, and it was noted that school buses were used to transport them to the factory.
The following day, the state’s industrial health and safety department conducted an inspection based on interviews with 27 workers, the youngest being 13 years old. The inspection report, which has not been made public but was seen by Reuters, states that these children were working 11-hour shifts starting at 8 a.m. Under state law, individuals under 21 are prohibited from working in liquor factories.
In response to these findings, both Som and the Madhya Pradesh government have not provided comments. However, Som submitted a statement to the state government on June 18, asserting that the children were merely visiting the factory to deliver food and medicine to their parents, and that no worker was under 21 years old.
Som Group, a smaller player in India’s extensive alcohol industry, claims international recognition, with its products available in over 20 markets, including the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
This incident has highlighted the ongoing issue of child labor in Indian supply chains. In a related case, Reuters reported in 2021 that an audit of two Carlsberg warehouses discovered underage laborers at a location in Jharkhand. Carlsberg responded by terminating the services of the third-party provider responsible.
The Madhya Pradesh government’s inspection report noted that the children at the Som distillery were not trained in safety measures for handling harmful chemicals. The report emphasized that due to the hazardous nature of the work, the factory should have had a health center on-site.
Following the discovery of child labor, the Madhya Pradesh government temporarily suspended Som distillery’s manufacturing licenses. Som challenged this decision, arguing there was no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing. A local court has since put the state’s suspension on hold, with the case set to be heard later this month.
In a statement to the stock exchange, Som Distilleries and Breweries Ltd disclosed that the Madhya Pradesh plant was managed by an “associate private limited company” and that the labor was provided by contractors who may have failed to conduct proper age verification checks. Since the revelation, the company’s shares have dropped by 8%.
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