Why are beauty brands not showing any care or support for the children and families —> yes generations have been working as “Mica” pickers. A mineral that produces the glitter, dazzle, shimmer that is craved by cosmetics and beauty brands, that is used in most if not all forms of makeup products: Foundations, Eye shadows, Cheek colour, Lipsticks all contain mica the source behind that “Glow” which is the staple of most makeup bags/draws/palettes/trays-that we all/most of us have in our possessions.
We live in the 21st century and yet this is how the lives of many in Jharkhand State a poverty riddled area of India with so many mines {mostly illegal even though some are legal} and a growing population who rely upon mica as an income. They produce 60% approx of this sought after mineral, which is banned but still in huge demand by the billion dollar beauty industry. It sits as a catch-twenty- two for the lives of many depending upon mica to feed tiny mouths and families as it buys the food, and living essentials for so many families who have no other means too survive.
Banned & illegal ?
Questions are rolling around my head about this as I know you are reading this feeling as I do WHY —> HOW is this exploitation of labour for a banned product still available ? It’s not even pretty but it is straightforward ‘rule breaking’ side stepping from the reality and swerving around the truth to ‘supply the demand’ without a care in the world for the little~people {tiny children} and families who suffer in conditions that are indescribable. Brings tears to my eyes as I write this —> as every month a person dies from working in the mines. Health hazards strongly linked to working in mica mines and it is known that it poses a threat to the areas nature reserve too. The product is banned and yet the loop-hole around it is big cosmetic companies wont buy mica directly from illegal mines, it is the processing plants where they get their supplies from.
A future of exploitation & no education
Furthermore, Child slave labour is so common here, as children are forced to work, deprived of education, these children have no option and a future with no other choice than to live too work in an extremely dangerous and vastly underpaid job.
Please leave a comment: I am going to be researching this further —> Tay
Fashion Brands Behaviour 