October 28 1996

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Local churches and denominations, focusing on ethical business practices, are finding new ways to combat the use of child labor, product by product.

One of the largest industries to depend on child labor is the rug business, centered in the countries of Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Hand-knotted carpets are often created by children as young as four years old, who may work up to 80 hours a week.

Until recently, ethically minded consumers have had difficulty in identifying products from companies that do not use child laborers. That is now changing. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries' Women's Division (UMW) is supporting Rugmark, a consumer education program of the Child Labor Coalition.

Rug manufacturers may place a Rugmark tag on their rugs after meeting requirements and passing inspections to assure no child labor is used.

"Rugmark has been a very explicit action we can use to encourage people to take action against child labor, but it will be used as a springboard for other means," says Koyla M. Braun, UMW's executive secretary for children, youth, and family advocacy. UMW is contacting retailers to encourage them to carry carpets with the Rugmark label.

Carpets are not the only products featured in labeling campaigns. Dan McCurry, a former Baptist pastor who is now with the International Labor Rights Research Fund, says Rugmark has become a starting point for several church denominations to get involved in human rights and labor rights issues.

McCurry is the national coordinator for the organization's "Foul Ball" campaign, which fights child labor in the sporting equipment industry, particularly soccer balls made in Pakistan.

"Here we have children playing with balls made by other children, who are never given time ...