Government has initiated an enquiry into the charges of child labour against a local supplier of garments to US retail major GAP, which recalled sweat shirts sourced from India from its stores.

"The government is enquiring into the incident...an isolated case could have happened," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Noida.

He said the government viewed the incident seriously and would ensure that the "matter is looked at in the correct perspective."

Nath said his ministry had taken up the issue with the European Union since a Dutch NGO was involved in spreading "a false campaign."

The Indian government wants to ensure that this incident is not blown out of proportion and used as a non-trade barrier against the country, Nath said.

"We want to make sure these are not Non-tariff barriers. These NTBs by EU will be responded with measures of similar kind," Nath said.

Textile Secretary A K Singh had earlier said that the government would ask exporters to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

The GAP has recalled from its stores, stocks sourced from an Indian supplier whose sub-contractor was reported to have employed children in an embroidery unit in the national capital.

Chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council Vijay Agarwal said India's social compliance was "among the best in the world" but the case involving a GAP supplier was an "isolated" one.

Mr. Divya Aggarwal

Money Management Consultants Ltd

Senior Copy Editor, Money Management Consultants Ltd
New Delhi, India

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