Government of Indonesia: Stop Child Labour On Tobacco Plantations!

Children as young as 10 years of age work under hazardous conditions on Indonesian tobacco plantations, although the minimum age for this job is set at 15 . According to a report by Human Rights Watch, child tobacco workers are being exposed to nicotine, toxic chemicals and extreme heat throughout Indonesia, the world's fifth-largest tobacco producer. The children absorb nicotine from wet tobacco leaves causing them to suffer from green tobacco sickness with symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, severe headaches, muscle weakness, breathing difficulties and
lethargy
. Nicotine poisoning can also cause lasting adverse consequences on brain development , particularly in children, and leads to an increased risk of nicotine addiction . 36,2% of Indonesian boys between the age of 13-15 smoke . Besides the health risks, the employment of children this young is simply illegal. Sign this petition to show the Indonesian government that the international community does not tolerate such violations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and pressure it to enforce the existing laws for a minimum age for this job.