BBC Investigation Exposes Children Labour Within The Fragrance Industry.

A BBC investigation has uncovered that children as young as five are involved in picking jasmine flowers in Egypt, which are used in perfumes by major brands like L'Oréal l and Estée Lauder . These children work through the night for extremely low wages, often earning about $1 a day. The jasmine they pick is processed in local factories and then supplied to international fragrance companies such as Givaudan and Firmenich , which in turn supply major beauty brands.

Egyptian jasmine is a crucial component in perfumes, accounting for around half of the world's supply. Some high-end perfumes containing this jasmine can retail for as much as $300. The investigation pointed to inadequate due diligence by the companies involved and the pricing pressures exerted by top brands as contributing factors to the prevalence of child labor.

In response to the findings, L’Oréal and Givaudan reaffirmed their commitment to respecting human rights. Estée Lauder stated that they are investigating the allegations with their suppliers, and Firmenich mentioned that they have changed their suppliers in Egypt following the revelations.

This situation highlights the persistent challenges in maintaining ethical supply chains in the global cosmetics industry and underscores the need for more rigorous oversight and enforcement of labor standards.