After watching this, I dont think it is about child labour. The root of the issue here is corporate greed because if the adults were paid better, they wouldn't want/need their children to work. Pay them a decent amount so they can be the breadwinners, for heaven's sake.
@@daphneg5712 I ran a successful business in South Africa and sold this at a profit some 10 years later. Had I exploited my staff I would definitely have made more money. Fact is, it’s easy to take advantage of workers who have little to no bargaining power. I think the comment about corporate greed is a fair one. The bigger the company, the more likely they are to put numbers above people.
Bible tells the root of all evil is love for money When Lord Yeshua comes this evil and sin will never exist. I wait for Jesus Christ, My heart aches for all children and people of the world.
Subject: Mandatory Feminism Education in South Korea Dear BBC, I am writing to bring attention to a significant issue in South Korea regarding the implementation of mandatory feminist education in primary, middle, and high schools. A petition by a large group of South Korean women in their 20s and 30s led to a government decision to introduce mandatory feminist education across schools (Petition Archive). This movement was supported by the South Korean government, which announced its intention to pursue this policy (YTN). Additionally, there has been criticism and controversy surrounding the policy's implementation, with reports of coercive tactics used by teachers to indoctrinate students, including targeting vulnerable children (PennMike). In May 2021, a petition on the South Korean presidential website called for an investigation into teachers accused of indoctrinating students with feminist ideas and creating a hostile environment for those who resist (MBN) I believe this issue merits international attention due to its implications for educational policies and gender politics. Best regards,
BBC tall "MBC,KBS,SBS is anti feminist" but MBC,KBS,SBS is feminists. BBC isn't National Geographic. BBC is official news. KBS filed a lawsuit against the BBC for misrepresentation of the documentary. Suspicions were raised that the documentary contained false facts about KBS and caused defamation. Following the lawsuit, the BBC apologized for the inaccuracies and agreed to correct the errors. The claim that anti-feminist Yoon Seok-yeol ordered the three broadcasting companies to censor content is as unbelievable as the BBC's recent mistakes. In fact, MBC and SBS censor public broadcasting content in real time, changing terms such as 'stroller' (stroller) to 'baby car' (child's car) and 'birth rate' (birth rate) to 'birth rate' (birth rate). I am using it. They censored the words stroller and birth rate because they did not fit the ideology of female supremacy.
The little girl saying “I hate jasmine” shattered my heart. I usually don’t wear perfumes because my nose is super sensitive to fragrance. But after smelling a jasmine tree in person, I bought my first perfume last year, the jasmine one from Gucci. I fell in love with love with the tree and it hurts me to know that a little girl across the globe has such a distaste for something so beautiful because of what she’s forced to do.
I work in design within the perfume industry, and the cost of the perfume itself is typically around €6-7 per bottle. Brand owners spend between €12-16 in total, including packaging, while the retail price usually falls between €140-160. Knowing how much profit is made-and then seeing children forced to work in the cold mud in the middle of the night-broke my heart. Givaudan should be held accountable. This is an inexcusable violation that must be condemned immediately.
I hope BBC will check up on these pickers after this documentary is aired to make sure that the factories DO NOT retaliate against the poor mother and her children. Judging by the factories' responses in this docu, I worry about what will happen to the mother and children, and pray that things will improve for them,
No American would be able to sleep or eat after checking up on these innocent souls. God created balance for some reason but it obviously exists drastically
Of course they're going to be retaliated against. BBC will bring back to broadcast on that as well. How do you know if they aren't just a different type exploiter? I'm not saying that getting the story out isn't important work but I'm curious as to what if any profit is made off of these stories and how much goes back, if any, towards helping the victims directly and indirectly. Just a thought!
Nope. Usually this kind of exposure attracts people who try to help, pay kids school, and donate food. A lot of people around the world get triggered by these things and usually they help.
Luxury brand perfumes pay high salaries, use Hollywood actresses to advertise, and open stores in prime locations around the world. The cost of perfume will be very low. When I look at these working children, I find it very foolish to buy expensive perfumes.😢
I cannot afford expensive scents, but this is eye opening. In Bulgaria, rose oil is imported for perfumes as well. I wonder if Bulgaria uses child labor as well.
They pay models actress a lot of money but don’t pay the ones that work hard not what they deserve. The system is full of hypocrisy. Avoid any brand you can cause 99% have dirt going on
What happens to these people after this documentary? I hope BBC supports them, because they are profiting from these stories. And they didn’t blur the interviewees faces.
Since then the governor of Gharbia has opened a case and social discussion for the betterment of the wages of these seasonal workers, currently theyre working hard to enforce laws and have signed in a new law for the seasonal workers and are currently enforcing it, currently its been 2 months since its been set to motion so nothings clear yet
Just like you 3000 dollars gucci bags or 10000 chanel bags.. or those 10000 dior bags that turned out to cost only 50 dollars. What’s the difference? I already stopped buying them in stages. Overconsumption is bad for the environment either way.
Also worth noting with this mention of a perfume costing $1 to bottle, is this is only achievable by these large conglomerates who can buy in ridiculously large quantities. As soon as you start looking at smaller perfume houses, especially those that are independent and working at a much smaller scale, that cost very quickly rises.
@@MD-01 It's fine if you think the salaries of marketing people and executives are the justification. I'd take a Marxist view on this one and say it's bourgeois nonsense and gullible consumerism.
Buying cheaper option or not doesnt matter. what really matters is the person who pay the pickers, should increase the pickers' pay. Wage of the pickers in that labor market is obviously oppressed...
This family of pickers were being poorly treated and paid. And now after this report, I bet they lost their job. My heart broke when that little girl said "I hate jasmine". How traumatizing is that. No child should go through this.
I am going to stop buying perfume. I have more than enough and I feel so ashamed not knowing what those kids went through just to give us the fragrance. The corporate greed is just crazy. Wish more can be done to help the kids.
Unfortunately everything we buy in the West is made somehow by third-world labour practices (including child labour): perfume, chocolate, coffee, clothes, China-made products, etc. Sadly, there's a reason why a lot of import products are sometimes cheaper than those made in one's respective country.
I work in this industry {retail} and find this to be a disgrace, no mother should be forced to sacrifice her children to feed her family. Shame to the whole chain for knowingly participating in child labor and making half assed excuses for it!
and did the owner of the perfume FORCE THE WOMAN TO HAVE KIDS? did the designe who owns the perfume made a poor man have sex with woman and have kids THE "MAN" CAN?T SUPPORT? who is the cruel one ? the poor,they are cruel and irresponsible.
@@bambieyedgirl7846 why? the poor have kid after kid they can´t feed.WHO forces them to have a good time in bed with a woman? not the rich,not the owner of the businesss.
I don’t think she’s forced to make a 5 year old and 8 year old child work. I understand she’s in poverty but that’s unacceptable and you can’t blame the industry for people deciding to have children if they’re already struggling financially.
Like chocolate, saffron, gold, gemstones etc... Child labor involved in the most expensive products on the worldwide market, especially the black markets 😢🙏🏻🫂
I think it's even sadder that those corporate VPs are having nice lives with their children losing no sleep over it :) . And what's worse, we have influencers promoting buying such products, even from shein and others.
I’m allergic to fragrances, so I don’t consume many cosmetics, but it makes me mad the amount of money they pay to actresses to promote their perfumes but won’t pay a fair wage to the pickers. 🤬
Are you delusional? These are Muslim girls. You think their families want them in school. I grew up in Algeria. Algeria is over 99 percent Muslim. Girls are supposed to get married as soon as they menstruate and produce more Muslim babies. You western people think you know how the world works but dont know a thing.
@@sozbdulrhmanli3300 you obviouly lack any morality and have zero empathy for these people being exploited. These companies make huge profits yet don't have the humanity and decency to pay a fair living wage to the parents so their children don't have to work and have proper nutrition. People like you make me nauseous!!!!
"it shouldn't be on the consumer to solve an industry wide problem" - it isn't just jasmine, but mining mica to producing clothes. There is no way to verify the supply chain is ethical. With any brand at any cost.
The supply chain is key here. The big perfume houses are not the ones paying the flower pickers. The problem is that these flower pickers are independent contractors who sell their flowers at a rate set by the buyers who make the oil. The Egyptian government needs to set the minimum price paid for the flowers and the oil too. This would go a long way to protect the people and their products from being exploited. That said, the minimum wage in Egypt is only EGP3,500 per month or $73.
they have to set regulations on that it will be a big help for there people to have at least minimum wage and help create jobs egypts economy is very 😢 inflation devaluation of currency its really heart breaking here
As a person who loves perfumes, this is eye-opening. I always thought the jasmine note in perfumes are man-made, you know, concocted using different chemicals to simulate the smell of jasmine, to cut cost..
If this is not addressed the right way, those flower picking jobs will be gone and it will probably be more just synthetic jasmine in the future. L'Oreal and Estee Lauder may decide to ban natural Jasmine from their brands, but it will be noticeable in the reduction of appeal and quality.
Yes you are right. The majority of Jasmine used in perfumery is not real Jasmine it is synthetic. It's only some of the bigger brands like Chanel and Dior amongst others who use real Jasmine absolute because it is far too expensive and not financially viable. I am a perfumer myself and I very rarely use real Jasmine absolute because of the cost. So not all of this documentary is truthful. Most perfumers in the industry use synthetic Jasmine that has been created in a lab. Including myself. Not to mention that Jasmine is a highly restricted material in the industry. So we all opt at finding a synthetic that is not restricted so much to make that special Jasmine perfume. The solution is not the consumer who must stop buying perfume. The solution must come from the distiller who takes the flowers and makes the oils. They are the ones responsible for ethical standards in the industry. They are the ones setting the price therefore they are the ones that should be paying these families a lot more. It's disgusting and that needs to change.
Fantastically informative but as some of those interviewed point out, the real problem is the price paid to the jasmine growers. The family featured will not be able to survive if their children don't work but the mother's earnings remain the same. It How can the fragrance companies justify paying the lowest possible rate to those who pick and produce while paying 25 times more on advertising?
@@anukritisrivastava2107 But most important cheap labor ids offered by the POOR ,they sell their kids.Go to the source,WHY is there there so much cheap labor?Because the poor are cruel,they happily ave sex AND DO NOT CARE that a child they can´t feed will be born.THE poor are cruel.VERY cruel.THEY can´t even give their kids a glass of pure water,let alone food or send them to school.
Without advertising, the product wouldn't sell. If the product doesn't sell, then there'd be no business. If there is no business, then there's no jobs for anyone. No jobs mean it's worse for the poor. No job means no food to eat. That's why advertising is so important.
I had no idea. This whole thing makes me mad. Nothing but greed, and we consumers are supporting it. I'm thankful this investigation was done. Knowing the facts changes our view on perfume/cologne.
why? the fault is of th parents, not the owner of the business.the poor keep having gkids they can´t feed,it is their responsability to feed their kids and send them to school...
@@zuzannanowicka6348 Yes I do. That is the reason I comment.I´ve known many poor persons who just keep getting pregnant. NOW -with internet-they figured they can actually sell their children to foreigners or as work slaves.BEFORE it happened as well but now it´s really esay to find buyers.THE POOR ARE CRUEL!
@@zuzannanowicka6348 I grew up very poor, lived in a hut, slept on a dirt floor, no indoor toilet, barely any food to eat, always hungry. As a young child, I wished my parents didn't create me or born me into a world of suffering, so @sesspess is correct. The poor should not have kids they can't afford. If you are poor, why create children and bring them into the world only for them to suffer and struggle?? Why do that to an innocent child. Children didn't ask to be born into poverty. If children could choose a parent or a family to be born into, we wouldn't choose a poor one. Poor people are the cruel ones, who create children they can't afford. A business never forced my mom to have kids. A big corporation never forced my mom to bring me into the world. It's my parents who did that. It's my parents who brought me into a life of poverty. So yes, poor people should not have kids.
@@sadimasson8734 do the rich force the poor to have 12 kids per woman? kids they can´t feed? or is it the poor who are cruel and irresponsible whoa have a good time in bed and do not care a child will be born?
no. offer and demand.too many kids born in poverty are foced to work because the father can not control himself and had 12 kids per woman.THAT IS NOT THE FAULT of the business,it is of the man who is poor and has kids!
I am so glad right now that I have a fragrance allergy and don't use perfumes at all. When I saw that the pickers only make less than $2.00 for hours of work I was flabbergasted, especially when a lot of these perfumes cost hundreds of dollars, its not like they are being sold for like $5.
yep I cant imagine living for a $1 a day////// even if Egypt is not the most expensive country in the world but still one us dollar is ridiculous, they cant live normal with that amount 30-50 usd per month for a fam. of four is crzy.....It is so inhumane. That for some people to live good others have to suffer. And the thing is that that people from developed countries dont want this to happen but greedy corporation only thing abt. themselves and money/
Correction: It's “God” with a capital “G” not a small “g”. It's wrong to write with a small "g". Because the Divine God Almighty is holy and sacred. So this is the proper and correct writing: God, Lord, God bless, and Jesus Christ. That's all. Thank you🙏
I’m sure Gucci and Prada and all these companies can afford to pay better, but these israeli industries don’t care about international law have you seen what they’re doing in Gaza?! L’Oréal is on the BDS list for a reason
The jasmine harvesting season runs from June to November in Egypt's Gharbiya region, which accounts for over half of the global jasmine supply. During this period, a large number of children are employed to pick the fragrant jasmine flowers from widespread bushes before sunrise. This cheap labor force enables the production of jasmine concrete and absolutes, which are exported worldwide for use in renowned perfume brands. Bulgari, whose perfume Splendida Jasmin Noir features a rich jasmine scent. Dior, with jasmine being a prominent note in fragrances like J'adore and Jasmin des Anges. Yves Saint Laurent, whose Mon Paris perfume has an intense jasmine heart. Tom Ford, with jasmine being a key component in fragrances like Jasmin Rouge. Also Jasmine picked by child laborers in Egypt are used by suppliers of Lancôme (owned by L'Oréal) for its Idôle L'Intense perfume, and Aerin Beauty (owned by Estée Lauder) for its Ikat Jasmine and Limone Di Sicilia fragrances.
1- I just saw how irresponsible and probably corrupt the Egyptian government is for letting this atrocity happen, the poverty and exploitation of its citizens from all ages. 2-thank you for showing this excellent documentary . From now on, I will stop buying perfume, it will help me save a lot of money and stop my perfume addiction!
It's not only about greedy corporations, it's also about corrupt government in Egypt and other countries where the illegal use of child labor is very common.
Deforestation has been made in Bolivia to produce the sugarcane alcohol for this European industry. The price of one litre of alcohol is a fraction of dollar and in a perfume formulation it ranges around 90% of content.
The girl with Jasmine allergies visiting health clinic starting at 3:00 to pick Jasmine. The moment she awakens her eyes are burning! Yet She’s a child who is working long night shifts, all companies and people profiteering of these children are going to have to answer to the biggest Boss Upstairs
Start with her mother. Who the f takes their sick child to work?! Then continue with the Egyptian government. Dior is not responsible for these families. They pay the price of the market for the product they buy. Egipt has a corrupt government and has been keeping its people in poverty. Imagine if the picking of jasmine is taken away from these folks. How are they gonna make money to feed their families?
When you buy a $100 bottle of perfume, most of that money goes on distribution and advertising: Distribution $35 Advertising $25 VAT $19 Perfume Profit $15 Packaging $3 Manufacturing $1 That leaves $2 for the flower pickers and the oil producers. There’s the problem! They must have a larger piece of the pie.
Very informative. To whomever mixed the audio, your BGM audio levels drown out the presenter at multiple points. Please consider reuploading with corrected audio. This information deserves to be heard, but you’ve accidentally hampered that.
No it was not a "Audio Glitch" BBC, it's your low quality "Journalism" that you fund by abusing the elderly and vulnerable by sending things to their door. These funds could of been used by actual journalists belonging us the stories as they should be, not as a half arsed by product of extortion.
Factories should increase the prices of jasmine collected by those jasmine pickers. governments should regulate prices.They should also provide safety goggles and flashlights. Parents should not allow their kids to work.
Even if factories increase the price it doesn't mean the workers will get paid more, there are always corrupt middle men and corporations that benefit the most. The make up industry, and big companies like Apple and tesla exploit and use child labour but they still in high demand. The parents are terrible for having kids and expecting them to work, there's a saying it takes a community to raise a child, people living in these area should all come together and be educated on how to stop this, the govt of these countries should also provide education for kids so they can have a better future. And if you in a position to help then help kids better there future then make a difference by helping. I donate money to a organization that provides pad for girls living in rural areas, many girls miss school because they miss school during there periods, has a women I find it heart breaking, cos when women are educated they become empowered and are to do more for there kids and community
Went help. North Africa, India and the Middle East have a very different perspective on slavery and using children. Only possible way to overcome this is to grow in different moral countries, but the costs will be prohibitive.
it's easier said than done, after many years, the price is at the stabilizing point, if you change the price at 1 point of production, it will trickle down the whole system
In the 1970's early 80's my parents came to Canada and me and my little sisters and cousins would go work at night with my parents picking worms. I hated it because I would be tired to go to school the next day. But we did it to help our parents starting a new life in Canada. They would work construction and cleaning in the daytime and worm picking at night when there would be rainfall. As children we didn't like it , but understood it and it brought us all closer as family and community
The Egypt government allows it . The poor kids pay the unhealthy price . And the celebrities gathered the big pice of the cake ,,they are payed millions for promotion those perfums
Have you done a film on Cobalt and the solar and e-car industry? Child labour, unregulated business in the Congo.... You should pick that story up too.
Thank you BBC. Diagram on screen at 20:17, showing where money for perfume goes, shocked me. "Magie Noire" by Lancôme costs round €100 for eau de toilette, I'm sure people who buy that wouldn't object to fairer wages for pickers and others in the supply chain. EU is sort of facing in the right direction but pressure is needed...
For all those troubled by this video, you have many options to be a responsible consumer: 1. Stop buying perfume all together, live minimal 2. Buy perfume only from ethical / fairtrade certified brands 3. Actively campaign for these brands to compensate producers fairly
I feel like a lot of low wage employees lost their job from this documentary. I am thankful for the information and I will never look at a bottle of perfume the same. I hope the community that this family lives in doesn’t cast them out for shedding light on their suffering.
As consumers we need to stop buying perfumes. I admit I do love perfumes and after watching this documentary I will not be purchasing anymore. We need to be aware of the consequences and effects of mass consumption. I pray for children and families that are suffering all over the world.
That's an unrealistic expectation. It's like asking people to stop using shampoos or soaps, because most of the beauty products are chemically engineered. All waste goes into land where ecological disaster is happening, and we just don't see it. Just look at how many products have perfume in them. Laundry, room sprays, candles, shampoos, body wash... you name it. People just love fragrance because it's "aromatherapy". But it's unnatural scents, chemically engineered. You don't have to stop using perfume altogether, but just know which houses take care in the way they run their business. There are many family-owned houses who are completely independent and do not go through commercial mass production flow.
Me too. I will not get a perfume, fragrance or Cologne again and asked that others don't get me one either. We grow lemon verbena, rosemary, lavender, lovage. We can use those to fragrance our clothes and that's enough. Not supporting huge business that tell us how successful they made profits...
@@nichegoseberazdvatriit’s very easy and cheap to make your own perfume. And so is shampoo and soaps and is also better in terms of ingredients cos u can make them free of harmful chemicals. Problem is majority of people are too lazy. And even those who complain they don’t have much money still spend money buying expensive perfumes and shampoos 😂.
@@i.JoanaT I would love to learn how I can make them. People who take time to master the skill probably don't have 12-hour a day job, and it's not a priority for them. I would love to make my own clothes, perfume, shampoo, build my own house free from led. lol I could take time to learn to do all that. But I also need to be jobless and spend time to learn all these things. Also one needs to buy ingredients to make perfume, and know which combinations will not cause ingredients to go stinky lol
The smell can actually affect someone's health especially if they are allergic to it.I am actually allergic to jasmine and don't like anything jasmine in it bse it affects me badly though I agree with you that pesticides play a big health risk too
yep easier to blame the horrible "west" not the local government... There are poor ppl in europe who live under 100 euros a month in poor parts of east europe, but you still dont see that there. There is a demographic crisis though. Egypt is not a poor country. Its like blaming the west for poor treatment of women in muslim countries..
The local governments are probably staying silent cause this is the only source of income to this village, it's either slavery or absolute extreme poverty and so they choose the former
The involvement is not only limited to perfumes with luxury brands on it, it involved the normal household keeping agents with brand tags as well. Like room/air fresheners and cosmetics as well. such an irony that humans demand making human slave to human to this certain level of extortion & greediness. thank you so much BBC world for this coverage.
@@sesspessstop commenting under each comment showing HUMANITY and criticizing the poor people and having the audacity to call them cruel when heartless ppl like you are cruel and just bootlick these corrupted companies. YOUR A MONSTER WHO HAS NO EMPATHY. Take some accountability
What can she really do about it? She might be a doctor, but does she have any real power to change the situation? All she can do is care for them as best as possible.
@@gezimsmajlaj3879not true. I make my own perfume too and buy organic essential oils and a few that are fragrance oils that are sourced from small family owned businesses. You just need to research and you’ll find it. It’s still a lot cheaper than buying a branded one and everyone asks me what perfume I wear cos they think it’s gorgeous 😊
It is inappropriate that A. Fakhry and Co. uses an independent collectors and farmers loophole in legislation and regulations. It is precisely that loophole that leads to the exploitation and violation of the pickers' human rights.
this is the reality of what these “gig” economies are trying to do, sidestep the protections and legal regulations keeping them from exploiting their workforce. we need more worker protections at every level, in every corner of the globe.
It's also important to understand that *the ingredients of 'fragrance' don't need to be disclosed as it's a trade secret. So, anything could be in the ingredients. The skin is our biggest organ. Think about what we are putting onto and into our bodies as well as doing to others who breathe that in.
BBC you put these children in the spot and I bet they have paid the price! That little girl wants to be a doctor you should fund that for her! You would of failed her future with this documentary!
Ahmed Mesilhy, the head of the Child Defense Network, has highlighted the grim reality of child labor in Egypt. He states that child labor is primarily linked to poverty and the deteriorating economic conditions of families
Yeah the problem is the people who are buying lots of these are stupid rich people that are never gonna care about these issues. They aren't the types to watch a documentary on bbc and give a shit.
If we don’t buy then what? What if all consumers stop buying and then industry dies, the families who rely on this job will be even more impoverished. We need laws to ensure they are compensated fairly and no ethical infringement happened in the sourcing process.
It’s not the only perfume industry being greedy. Clothes we are wearing everyday came from cheap labor China. Yes, Prada also manufactured most in China too. No matter ppl buying those shits always there are ppl sacrifice their time and labor- we can’t be free from this system.. only company wins this game and smile one us all the time..not the costumers… BBc Do not even try inject guiltiness to costumers buying their product .. don’t get me wrong l, I hate perfumes and always run away when I need to be with someone wearing heavy perfume and sharing same air with them too 🤢🤢🤢
Sadly it's one of these cases where there are so many factors at play. Especially when you're dealing with a lengthy supply chain that crosses geographical, cultural and financial borders, as is often the case in perfumery given that there is a desire from consumers to want products containing expensive and luxury ingredients. Even if Givaudan/Firmenich etc were to dictate to the jasmine factories how much they should pay the suppliers, it doesn't then mean that the suppliers would have obligation to pay the independent farmers any more money. It could also mean that the jasmine farm owners could dictate the farmers pay them a larger sum for the right to pick from their farm if larger pay created a competitive work force. On top of this, it seems so much of the issue with how much the farmers are being paid is dictated by the dwindling value of the Egyptian Pound. The value of the pound fell drastically again this year to the point where it is now only worth a fifth of what it was 4 years ago. So even with the amount that is being paid by fragrance companies, the Egyptian part of the supply chain is now only seeing a fifth of what they once made even a short while ago. This then creates the issue where those on the poverty line who want enough money to live, will bring their children along to pick with them, creating the issue of child slavery. It should be on the likes of Givaudan to set a baseline of value, so if currency value decreases, they would just have to drastically increase the price they pay for the material to compensate, and the end companies such as Estee Lauder would need to accept that this will mean a small reduction in profits if they want to sell a product containing Night Blooming Jasmine, or they can increase the price of the end product, but that could see them with an even larger reduction in profits, so that's up to them as a business to decide how best to price their products.
As a perfume collector, I feel shattered about this situation. Oh my Lord. How can we help this people? How to prevent all these big companies from taking advantage of the vulnerable ones? I’m devastated
Farmers should be more protected by the government. Unfortunately so many governments in Africa do not do that. I do not see how hard it is to pay $5 per kilo. Such a shame.
I never knew jasmine oil came from Egypt, I figured it was an Asian country. In Chicago, many Asian American store owners sell jasmine plants, they costs between $15-22 dollars. I adore the scent of jasmine, but this documentary opens my eyes.
I do not understand! These children arent allowed to be children. This breaks my heart. My children never knew how good they really had it. Kids today dont know.
He could be enslaved in a different field. Many scenarios play in mind and I can't make wrong assumptions about people. God bless the mothers and the children who do everything to get by.
@@ramenomirice2767 False, doubt they're even married officially cause officially marriages cost some cash, he's very likely slaving away in some other field of work possibly construction and is breaking himself in order to get paid and sends less than 20 cents back home to his family everyday it is hell for that family and you can see it in the malnourished miserable children, the depressed mother, the absent father.
Every where it’s the same no matter where ,the big companies make the big bukks and the little guys get paid peanuts, every where it’s the same story Big companies should be held accountable for this
*Ooh my God I remember the Jasmine flower just falling off our garden tree and all the scent would scatter inside our house. Approximately 70% of houses in the Middle East would have the tree grown in their house* 😅❤
A very good investigation that lits light on the dark side of luxury business. Unfortunately it left me full of questions: what shall I do as a consumer? Will the fact that I stop buying those perfumes end the misery of those underpaid people or worsen their situation because they will be left without work whatsoever? How can I as a consumer get though the whole production chain? What shall be done on legal and social level to help those people get their fair wages? These issues affect not only the perfume industry but other industries too such as textile and food industries for example: What we need is more more awareness and knowledge on the subject.
Thanks to the BBC for making such a report, let me know the working environment at the bottom of the perfume industry chain. In addition to the legislation mentioned in the video, the luxury goods company and masters assume the corresponding social responsibility, commissioning an independent body to review the more transparent industry chain. I think the local government also needs to strengthen the construction of infrastructure and enrich the employment options of local residents. What I see in this video is that flower pickers have no better source of income than gathering jasmine flowers. In addition, I would also like to say that $300 perfume is still too far from my life, and this is the problem of the gap between rich and poor.
What happens to the children and their parent’s, if the ban is enforced? This is a complex issue… having lived in a country that uses child labor for seven years, these parents are dependent on these jobs.
I think the problem is that despite the end product being expensive, that is not going down stream of the supply chain. The perfume industry is exploitative, and thats why these people are dependent on child labor. The problem is purely on those who profit off the product, and uses these products, either knowingly pr unknowingly. The problem is with us, in the first world country
I think that it can happen in many industries, not just perfume industry. Due to the influence of globalisation, supply chains have been transmitted to many developing countries to reduce cost. Secondly, these families have rights to make their children rest if they think health of children is more important.
The thing with these situations is that, that mother and her children are "independent contractors". I assume that make the mother directly and solely responsible for the child labour. There is nothing really to push the masters to do anything
In most of the countries child labor is linked to poverty or lack of financial stability. It's a shame that even in the 21st century, many of our children in different parts of the world undergo a miserable life. Exploitation of our children continue in different forms. It is high time to abolish child labor in any forms by ensuring their rights to live a dignified life. Good documentary. 👏
perfume gives me headaches, I just used it because we were used to, but stop using it for 8 months and notice I feel great without it, but didn’t notice it before.. I will never use it again, they’re expensive and watching this is one more reason to stop buying.
Okay. But isn't this more the fault of the Egyptian government rather than the luxury brands? Right now, they are spending $100 billion to build a capital far away from the people, instead of spending that on modernizing their industries. The first one to turn a blind eye on this are the Egyptian bureaucrats.
The reason to build a new capital far away from the people is to prevent another Arab Spring! It'll be difficult for the citizens to match to the government and demand changes. Egyptian president was a former general, creating laws to prosper the citizens doesn't seem to be his priority. The middle class Egyptians seems to like him
I agree that it should be the priority of the Egyptian government to stop this modern form of slavery. Otherwise, What do you have a governement for?. Unfortunately, global economies work like this one way or another, it's simply criminal
True. Maybe it should be grown elsewhere. Egypt is a country that has wasted most of their income from an unending flow of tourism in just corruption and have little to show from all the years and years of visitors leaving them a lot of income.
After watching this, I dont think it is about child labour. The root of the issue here is corporate greed because if the adults were paid better, they wouldn't want/need their children to work. Pay them a decent amount so they can be the breadwinners, for heaven's sake.
The root cause is poverty. About 30% of Egyptians live below the poverty line.
@@daphneg5712
I ran a successful business in South Africa and sold this at a profit some 10 years later. Had I exploited my staff I would definitely have made more money. Fact is, it’s easy to take advantage of workers who have little to no bargaining power. I think the comment about corporate greed is a fair one. The bigger the company, the more likely they are to put numbers above people.
Agree... Child labour comes from unfair paid issues between adults
Well said
I agree, parents would not need children to work if they made a living wage. So sad this world we have created.
A dollar a day for a mother and her three children who are slaving away the whole night. Its truly pathetic and grossly unethical!!!
@@margaret-yr6uh regardless it's disgusting
@@margaret-yr6uhomg you didn't just say that
Bible tells the root of all evil is love for money
When Lord Yeshua comes this evil and sin will never exist.
I wait for Jesus Christ,
My heart aches for all children and people of the world.
Subject: Mandatory Feminism Education in South Korea Dear BBC, I am writing to bring attention to a significant issue in South Korea regarding the implementation of mandatory feminist education in primary, middle, and high schools. A petition by a large group of South Korean women in their 20s and 30s led to a government decision to introduce mandatory feminist education across schools (Petition Archive). This movement was supported by the South Korean government, which announced its intention to pursue this policy (YTN). Additionally, there has been criticism and controversy surrounding the policy's implementation, with reports of coercive tactics used by teachers to indoctrinate students, including targeting vulnerable children (PennMike). In May 2021, a petition on the South Korean presidential website called for an investigation into teachers accused of indoctrinating students with feminist ideas and creating a hostile environment for those who resist (MBN) I believe this issue merits international attention due to its implications for educational policies and gender politics. Best regards,
BBC tall "MBC,KBS,SBS is anti feminist" but MBC,KBS,SBS is feminists. BBC isn't National Geographic. BBC is official news.
KBS filed a lawsuit against the BBC for misrepresentation of the documentary. Suspicions were raised that the documentary contained false facts about KBS and caused defamation. Following the lawsuit, the BBC apologized for the inaccuracies and agreed to correct the errors. The claim that anti-feminist Yoon Seok-yeol ordered the three broadcasting companies to censor content is as unbelievable as the BBC's recent mistakes. In fact, MBC and SBS censor public broadcasting content in real time, changing terms such as 'stroller' (stroller) to 'baby car' (child's car) and 'birth rate' (birth rate) to 'birth rate' (birth rate). I am using it. They censored the words stroller and birth rate because they did not fit the ideology of female supremacy.
Why the F is perfume so expensive when the laborers aren’t being compensated fairly? Disgusting corporate greed.
The brands are eating perfume buyers money and also the poor laborers money.
The little girl saying “I hate jasmine” shattered my heart. I usually don’t wear perfumes because my nose is super sensitive to fragrance. But after smelling a jasmine tree in person, I bought my first perfume last year, the jasmine one from Gucci. I fell in love with love with the tree and it hurts me to know that a little girl across the globe has such a distaste for something so beautiful because of what she’s forced to do.
😞
Me too. Actually young women don't like Jasmine in middle East. Unless you are married and stuff...
Her mom forced her tho…
@@OliviaReighof course!! It's the mum's fault for making her go!! I think you were watching a different documentary if that's your thought on it!
@@helenburrows3585 I mean you can remind me whr I miss the employer asked or force the mom to work with her kids... No offense
I work in design within the perfume industry, and the cost of the perfume itself is typically around €6-7 per bottle. Brand owners spend between €12-16 in total, including packaging, while the retail price usually falls between €140-160. Knowing how much profit is made-and then seeing children forced to work in the cold mud in the middle of the night-broke my heart. Givaudan should be held accountable. This is an inexcusable violation that must be condemned immediately.
I hope BBC will check up on these pickers after this documentary is aired to make sure that the factories DO NOT retaliate against the poor mother and her children. Judging by the factories' responses in this docu, I worry about what will happen to the mother and children, and pray that things will improve for them,
No American would be able to sleep or eat after checking up on these innocent souls. God created balance for some reason but it obviously exists drastically
Of course they're going to be retaliated against. BBC will bring back to broadcast on that as well. How do you know if they aren't just a different type exploiter? I'm not saying that getting the story out isn't important work but I'm curious as to what if any profit is made off of these stories and how much goes back, if any, towards helping the victims directly and indirectly. Just a thought!
👍 that will happen. Cruelty has no bounds.😢
Facts
Nope. Usually this kind of exposure attracts people who try to help, pay kids school, and donate food. A lot of people around the world get triggered by these things and usually they help.
Corporate greed at its ugliest. I hope millions watch this documentary.
Same clothes and shoes made by millions poor children in Bangladesh. Disgusting
@@sarajesusismyking and? oit is their own parents who force them to work.THEY ARE POOR,they should NOT HAVE KIDS!
I'll start not purchasing this brands 😕
Amen
Vote blue 💙
Luxury brand perfumes pay high salaries, use Hollywood actresses to advertise, and open stores in prime locations around the world. The cost of perfume will be very low. When I look at these working children, I find it very foolish to buy expensive perfumes.😢
I cannot afford expensive scents, but this is eye opening. In Bulgaria, rose oil is imported for perfumes as well. I wonder if Bulgaria uses child labor as well.
They pay models actress a lot of money but don’t pay the ones that work hard not what they deserve. The system is full of hypocrisy. Avoid any brand you can cause 99% have dirt going on
@@cocoaorange1 The biggest companies probably do that (also the ones selling cheaper perfumes)
I hate this world 😢
I heard that the fragrance itself is not expensive but packaging and bottles form the price
It's a shame for those companies who claim to have fair trades but actually exploiting the farmers.
That’s the western world for you.
Exploit exploit exploit
What happens to these people after this documentary?
I hope BBC supports them, because they are profiting from these stories. And they didn’t blur the interviewees faces.
Really.
Agree
I'm pretty sure they would have given them money. I would have out of my pocket if I was there
I was thinking thr same.. I'm worried about that mother and her Kids
Since then the governor of Gharbia has opened a case and social discussion for the betterment of the wages of these seasonal workers, currently theyre working hard to enforce laws and have signed in a new law for the seasonal workers and are currently enforcing it, currently its been 2 months since its been set to motion so nothings clear yet
Perfumes are utterly expensive. But they can’t even compensate the farmers well?
Need a choclate like society where guidelines for paying farmers to produce gudlines
Even if you pay the farmers well, are the farmers going to pay the harvesters fairly? And there are middlemen at the collection centers in the chain.
And they pay celebrities huge amount of money just by endorsing their products. The world is so unfair
Just like you 3000 dollars gucci bags or 10000 chanel bags.. or those 10000 dior bags that turned out to cost only 50 dollars. What’s the difference? I already stopped buying them in stages. Overconsumption is bad for the environment either way.
Designer perfumes are often sold for 5000%, 6000% profit relative to manufacturing cost. That fact alone is enough reason to steer clear.
Also worth noting with this mention of a perfume costing $1 to bottle, is this is only achievable by these large conglomerates who can buy in ridiculously large quantities. As soon as you start looking at smaller perfume houses, especially those that are independent and working at a much smaller scale, that cost very quickly rises.
they are charging for the idea that went into developing the fragrance. We have the choice to buy the cheaper options
@@MD-01 It's fine if you think the salaries of marketing people and executives are the justification. I'd take a Marxist view on this one and say it's bourgeois nonsense and gullible consumerism.
@@thomHD I don’t think anything. lol. I’m just saying we have the choice. We can buy cheaper option if we want to.
Buying cheaper option or not doesnt matter. what really matters is the person who pay the pickers, should increase the pickers' pay. Wage of the pickers in that labor market is obviously oppressed...
This family of pickers were being poorly treated and paid. And now after this report, I bet they lost their job. My heart broke when that little girl said "I hate jasmine". How traumatizing is that. No child should go through this.
mine doesn´t break. the parents have 10 kids in poverty. THEY ARE THE CRUEL ONES, not the owners of businesses.
@@Sarie977 Yup fault of the parents
@@Sarie977 You really are ignorant!
@@Sarie977They don’t have access to birth control. Have some empathy.
@@Sarie977You are heartless and need to educate yourself about poverty. Arrogance at its finest.
A heart-breaking story! I will never look at perfumes the same way again. Thank you for your excellent and extensive investigation.
This needs to be SHARED EVERYWHERE!
Tina, u hv beautiful career
I am going to stop buying perfume. I have more than enough and I feel so ashamed not knowing what those kids went through just to give us the fragrance. The corporate greed is just crazy. Wish more can be done to help the kids.
As a person grew up in poor family ,I have to tell you the truth:you are helping them to earn their food by buying perfumes.
Unfortunately everything we buy in the West is made somehow by third-world labour practices (including child labour): perfume, chocolate, coffee, clothes, China-made products, etc. Sadly, there's a reason why a lot of import products are sometimes cheaper than those made in one's respective country.
@@吳家有女初長成 would need to buy directly from the poor family
@@吳家有女初長成you're right
@@吳家有女初長成 Really? Aren't we just enabling the corporate greed and exploitation if we do buy the expensive perfumes?
I work in this industry {retail} and find this to be a disgrace, no mother should be forced to sacrifice her children to feed her family. Shame to the whole chain for knowingly participating in child labor and making half assed excuses for it!
Disgusted 😥💔
Very true 😢
and did the owner of the perfume FORCE THE WOMAN TO HAVE KIDS? did the designe who owns the perfume made a poor man have sex with woman and have kids THE "MAN" CAN?T SUPPORT? who is the cruel one ? the poor,they are cruel and irresponsible.
@@bambieyedgirl7846 why? the poor have kid after kid they can´t feed.WHO forces them to have a good time in bed with a woman? not the rich,not the owner of the businesss.
I don’t think she’s forced to make a 5 year old and 8 year old child work. I understand she’s in poverty but that’s unacceptable and you can’t blame the industry for people deciding to have children if they’re already struggling financially.
Isn’t it sad that everything that we seem to love has child labour involved in it and we have no idea what it takes for that to be sold to us? Sad.
I mean, perfume is no necessity. But human greed knows no limits
Like chocolate, saffron, gold, gemstones etc... Child labor involved in the most expensive products on the worldwide market, especially the black markets 😢🙏🏻🫂
I think it's even sadder that those corporate VPs are having nice lives with their children losing no sleep over it :) . And what's worse, we have influencers promoting buying such products, even from shein and others.
@@euphorbia1581Nothing is but food water and shelter. That logic is faulty.
@@ReginaReddingand Africa is RICH with it. They continue to exploit
I’m allergic to fragrances, so I don’t consume many cosmetics, but it makes me mad the amount of money they pay to actresses to promote their perfumes but won’t pay a fair wage to the pickers. 🤬
This is insane those little hands picking the flowers are flowers themselves.
pervert's comment above!
i had no idea the perfume industry was the same as fashion and cosmetics .. is there any brand that doesn't involve child labor/underpayment ?
Anything that you can track back. Like local herbal perfumes. Fair trades companies and so...
Maybe locally made!
Nope. Not when they are in 3rd world countries. They can get away with just about anything outside the US.
Welcome to capitalism
its in every major industry, why would it surprise you?
Famous perfume brands MUST support these kids' education - it's the least they can do
Are you delusional? These are Muslim girls. You think their families want them in school. I grew up in Algeria. Algeria is over 99 percent Muslim. Girls are supposed to get married as soon as they menstruate and produce more Muslim babies.
You western people think you know how the world works but dont know a thing.
They won't even pay them properly. Schooling and any care, they will not do. They need to pay their parents a living wage😮💨
Why? It's their government job, not a company
@@sozbdulrhmanli3300 take off that stupid headscarf.
@@sozbdulrhmanli3300 you obviouly lack any morality and have zero empathy for these people being exploited.
These companies make huge profits yet don't have the humanity and decency to pay a fair living wage to the parents so their children don't have to work and have proper nutrition.
People like you make me nauseous!!!!
"it shouldn't be on the consumer to solve an industry wide problem" - it isn't just jasmine, but mining mica to producing clothes. There is no way to verify the supply chain is ethical. With any brand at any cost.
The supply chain is key here. The big perfume houses are not the ones paying the flower pickers. The problem is that these flower pickers are independent contractors who sell their flowers at a rate set by the buyers who make the oil. The Egyptian government needs to set the minimum price paid for the flowers and the oil too. This would go a long way to protect the people and their products from being exploited. That said, the minimum wage in Egypt is only EGP3,500 per month or $73.
Exactly my thoughts. It’s not the perfume houses setting the prices, it’s the Egyptian government not caring about its peoples standards of living.
they have to set regulations on that
it will be a big help for there people to have at least minimum wage and help create jobs
egypts economy is very 😢
inflation
devaluation of currency
its really heart breaking here
These pickers are working for $1.00-$1.40 per day which is sizeably less than the minimum wage of $73 mthly.
💔
Thanks for this documentary. Such an awakening. I hope and pray the issue will be addressed.
As a person who loves perfumes, this is eye-opening. I always thought the jasmine note in perfumes are man-made, you know, concocted using different chemicals to simulate the smell of jasmine, to cut cost..
Same here I thought all was fake 😢
check out 7 virtues perfume - ethically sourced and pays all suppliers very well.
If this is not addressed the right way, those flower picking jobs will be gone and it will probably be more just synthetic jasmine in the future. L'Oreal and Estee Lauder may decide to ban natural Jasmine from their brands, but it will be noticeable in the reduction of appeal and quality.
Me too😢
Yes you are right. The majority of Jasmine used in perfumery is not real Jasmine it is synthetic. It's only some of the bigger brands like Chanel and Dior amongst others who use real Jasmine absolute because it is far too expensive and not financially viable. I am a perfumer myself and I very rarely use real Jasmine absolute because of the cost. So not all of this documentary is truthful. Most perfumers in the industry use synthetic Jasmine that has been created in a lab. Including myself. Not to mention that Jasmine is a highly restricted material in the industry. So we all opt at finding a synthetic that is not restricted so much to make that special Jasmine perfume. The solution is not the consumer who must stop buying perfume. The solution must come from the distiller who takes the flowers and makes the oils. They are the ones responsible for ethical standards in the industry. They are the ones setting the price therefore they are the ones that should be paying these families a lot more. It's disgusting and that needs to change.
We did a story on the cotton trade back in the early 2000's, same thing. Cocoa trade, mining trade, fashion, you name it, they exploit workers.
Im getting sick ! This Bloodsucker need to be Stopt !
Fantastically informative but as some of those interviewed point out, the real problem is the price paid to the jasmine growers. The family featured will not be able to survive if their children don't work but the mother's earnings remain the same. It How can the fragrance companies justify paying the lowest possible rate to those who pick and produce while paying 25 times more on advertising?
the poor should stop having kids.
Ruthless capitalism and excessive consumerism?
@@anukritisrivastava2107 But most important cheap labor ids offered by the POOR ,they sell their kids.Go to the source,WHY is there there so much cheap labor?Because the poor are cruel,they happily ave sex AND DO NOT CARE that a child they can´t feed will be born.THE poor are cruel.VERY cruel.THEY can´t even give their kids a glass of pure water,let alone food or send them to school.
Without advertising, the product wouldn't sell. If the product doesn't sell, then there'd be no business. If there is no business, then there's no jobs for anyone. No jobs mean it's worse for the poor. No job means no food to eat.
That's why advertising is so important.
@@sesspessYeah, only the rich should be allowed to populate the earth. Great solution.
Thank you for showing this. It hurts me so much😢😢😢
I had no idea. This whole thing makes me mad. Nothing but greed, and we consumers are supporting it. I'm thankful this investigation was done. Knowing the facts changes our view on perfume/cologne.
My heart hurts seeing those little children 😢
why? the fault is of th parents, not the owner of the business.the poor keep having gkids they can´t feed,it is their responsability to feed their kids and send them to school...
@@sesspess do you know much about life in such poor communities? As it seems you don’t.
@@zuzannanowicka6348 Yes I do. That is the reason I comment.I´ve known many poor persons who just keep getting pregnant. NOW -with internet-they figured they can actually sell their children to foreigners or as work slaves.BEFORE it happened as well but now it´s really esay to find buyers.THE POOR ARE CRUEL!
@@zuzannanowicka6348
I grew up very poor, lived in a hut, slept on a dirt floor, no indoor toilet, barely any food to eat, always hungry. As a young child, I wished my parents didn't create me or born me into a world of suffering, so @sesspess is correct.
The poor should not have kids they can't afford. If you are poor, why create children and bring them into the world only for them to suffer and struggle?? Why do that to an innocent child. Children didn't ask to be born into poverty. If children could choose a parent or a family to be born into, we wouldn't choose a poor one.
Poor people are the cruel ones, who create children they can't afford. A business never forced my mom to have kids. A big corporation never forced my mom to bring me into the world. It's my parents who did that. It's my parents who brought me into a life of poverty. So yes, poor people should not have kids.
@@terriesmith2616 What I mean is that I agree with you, but I also understand people who do and why they do, just to not demonise them
No matter the industry, child labour is driven by poverty.
racism
Driven by Capitalism
&corporate greed
@@constanceakashamaat no. the poor have kids they can´t feed,they send them to work,the kids will have no studies ,so they will be slaves for ever.
@@sadimasson8734 do the rich force the poor to have 12 kids per woman? kids they can´t feed? or is it the poor who are cruel and irresponsible whoa have a good time in bed and do not care a child will be born?
Keep up the good work. We need to pressure these brands to do what's right for the marginalised. A dollar a day! it's absurd.
no. offer and demand.too many kids born in poverty are foced to work because the father can not control himself and had 12 kids per woman.THAT IS NOT THE FAULT of the business,it is of the man who is poor and has kids!
I am so glad right now that I have a fragrance allergy and don't use perfumes at all. When I saw that the pickers only make less than $2.00 for hours of work I was flabbergasted, especially when a lot of these perfumes cost hundreds of dollars, its not like they are being sold for like $5.
$1.50 for all that? Can they please not, that's just so... oh my god!!! I hate this world, how can they be treating fellow people this low😭
yep I cant imagine living for a $1 a day////// even if Egypt is not the most expensive country in the world but still one us dollar is ridiculous, they cant live normal with that amount 30-50 usd per month for a fam. of four is crzy.....It is so inhumane. That for some people to live good others have to suffer. And the thing is that that people from developed countries dont want this to happen but greedy corporation only thing abt. themselves and money/
Correction: It's “God” with a capital “G” not a small “g”. It's wrong to write with a small "g". Because the Divine God Almighty is holy and sacred. So this is the proper and correct writing: God, Lord, God bless, and Jesus Christ. That's all. Thank you🙏
@@thefirstXYZ that's a casual speech or expression bro its not like I'm pertaining to the God.
Not buying perfumes can't be a solution. There need to be strict laws and strict audits.
Money buys them unfortunately, that's the hard truth.
Boycotting is always a first step…it’s a start!
I’m sure Gucci and Prada and all these companies can afford to pay better, but these israeli industries don’t care about international law have you seen what they’re doing in Gaza?! L’Oréal is on the BDS list for a reason
so take away their livelihood and self worth so you can feel better? then what do they do, wait for your check to arrive?
The jasmine harvesting season runs from June to November in Egypt's Gharbiya region, which accounts for over half of the global jasmine supply.
During this period, a large number of children are employed to pick the fragrant jasmine flowers from widespread bushes before sunrise.
This cheap labor force enables the production of jasmine concrete and absolutes, which are exported worldwide for use in renowned perfume brands.
Bulgari, whose perfume Splendida Jasmin Noir features a rich jasmine scent.
Dior, with jasmine being a prominent note in fragrances like J'adore and Jasmin des Anges.
Yves Saint Laurent, whose Mon Paris perfume has an intense jasmine heart. Tom Ford, with jasmine being
a key component in fragrances like Jasmin Rouge.
Also Jasmine picked by child laborers in Egypt are used by suppliers of Lancôme (owned by L'Oréal) for its Idôle L'Intense perfume, and Aerin Beauty (owned by Estée Lauder) for its Ikat Jasmine and Limone Di Sicilia fragrances.
Thanks, that is so informative ❤
@@zuzannanowicka6348 🙏
and don't forget the best-selling perfume in the world: chanel 5
Shame on all the companies.
Great breakdown! This comment should be much higher
Gold, crystal, perfume etc, all these materials involve child work.😢
That won't change no matter how much its publicised.
Garment construction/ sewing too
Every industry does most likely, but for sure hard intensive labor like farming and agriculture/manufacturing
Batteries
Not to mention chocolate and coffee 😢
1- I just saw how irresponsible and probably corrupt the Egyptian government is for letting this atrocity happen, the poverty and exploitation of its citizens from all ages.
2-thank you for showing this excellent documentary . From now on, I will stop buying perfume, it will help me save a lot of money and stop my perfume addiction!
It's not only about greedy corporations, it's also about corrupt government in Egypt and other countries where the illegal use of child labor is very common.
Deforestation has been made in Bolivia to produce the sugarcane alcohol for this European industry. The price of one litre of alcohol is a fraction of dollar and in a perfume formulation it ranges around 90% of content.
The girl with Jasmine allergies visiting health clinic starting at 3:00 to pick Jasmine. The moment she awakens her eyes are burning! Yet She’s a child who is working long night shifts, all companies and people profiteering of these children are going to have to answer to the biggest Boss Upstairs
Start with her mother. Who the f takes their sick child to work?! Then continue with the Egyptian government.
Dior is not responsible for these families. They pay the price of the market for the product they buy. Egipt has a corrupt government and has been keeping its people in poverty. Imagine if the picking of jasmine is taken away from these folks. How are they gonna make money to feed their families?
Thank you for showing this.
When you buy a $100 bottle of perfume, most of that money goes on distribution and advertising:
Distribution $35
Advertising $25
VAT $19
Perfume Profit $15
Packaging $3
Manufacturing $1
That leaves $2 for the flower pickers and the oil producers. There’s the problem! They must have a larger piece of the pie.
Congratutaions on this so important documentary!!!
Very informative.
To whomever mixed the audio, your BGM audio levels drown out the presenter at multiple points. Please consider reuploading with corrected audio.
This information deserves to be heard, but you’ve accidentally hampered that.
yeah, that's what i wanted to say , they literally have an inappropriate BGM audio level
Thanks - I had to look up what "BGM" means to understand your comment, but you saved me writing about this.
Just what I wanted to say.
We appreciate your feedback regarding the audio issue. It was a technical glitch, and we have now resolved it.
No it was not a "Audio Glitch" BBC, it's your low quality "Journalism" that you fund by abusing the elderly and vulnerable by sending things to their door. These funds could of been used by actual journalists belonging us the stories as they should be, not as a half arsed by product of extortion.
Factories should increase the prices of jasmine collected by those jasmine pickers. governments should regulate prices.They should also provide safety goggles and flashlights. Parents should not allow their kids to work.
In India? Good luck with this wish list
Even if factories increase the price it doesn't mean the workers will get paid more, there are always corrupt middle men and corporations that benefit the most. The make up industry, and big companies like Apple and tesla exploit and use child labour but they still in high demand. The parents are terrible for having kids and expecting them to work, there's a saying it takes a community to raise a child, people living in these area should all come together and be educated on how to stop this, the govt of these countries should also provide education for kids so they can have a better future. And if you in a position to help then help kids better there future then make a difference by helping. I donate money to a organization that provides pad for girls living in rural areas, many girls miss school because they miss school during there periods, has a women I find it heart breaking, cos when women are educated they become empowered and are to do more for there kids and community
Went help. North Africa, India and the Middle East have a very different perspective on slavery and using children. Only possible way to overcome this is to grow in different moral countries, but the costs will be prohibitive.
They have flashlights.
it's easier said than done, after many years, the price is at the stabilizing point, if you change the price at 1 point of production, it will trickle down the whole system
I hope that someday, there will be a movie about this to shake off the world.
In the 1970's early 80's my parents came to Canada and me and my little sisters and cousins would go work at night with my parents picking worms. I hated it because I would be tired to go to school the next day. But we did it to help our parents starting a new life in Canada. They would work construction and cleaning in the daytime and worm picking at night when there would be rainfall. As children we didn't like it , but understood it and it brought us all closer as family and community
The Egypt government allows it . The poor kids pay the unhealthy price . And the celebrities gathered the big pice of the cake ,,they are payed millions for promotion those perfums
Have you done a film on Cobalt and the solar and e-car industry? Child labour, unregulated business in the Congo.... You should pick that story up too.
This is real journalism! Thank you BBC for this eye opening documentary!
Thank you BBC. Diagram on screen at 20:17, showing where money for perfume goes, shocked me. "Magie Noire" by Lancôme costs round €100 for eau de toilette, I'm sure people who buy that wouldn't object to fairer wages for pickers and others in the supply chain. EU is sort of facing in the right direction but pressure is needed...
The owners in Egypt will not pay fair wages. That is the choke point.
Shame UK is out of the EU.
The family is so brave to speak out 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
For all those troubled by this video, you have many options to be a responsible consumer:
1. Stop buying perfume all together, live minimal
2. Buy perfume only from ethical / fairtrade certified brands
3. Actively campaign for these brands to compensate producers fairly
I feel like a lot of low wage employees lost their job from this documentary. I am thankful for the information and I will never look at a bottle of perfume the same. I hope the community that this family lives in doesn’t cast them out for shedding light on their suffering.
As consumers we need to stop buying perfumes. I admit I do love perfumes and after watching this documentary I will not be purchasing anymore. We need to be aware of the consequences and effects of mass consumption. I pray for children and families that are suffering all over the world.
That's an unrealistic expectation. It's like asking people to stop using shampoos or soaps, because most of the beauty products are chemically engineered. All waste goes into land where ecological disaster is happening, and we just don't see it. Just look at how many products have perfume in them. Laundry, room sprays, candles, shampoos, body wash... you name it. People just love fragrance because it's "aromatherapy". But it's unnatural scents, chemically engineered.
You don't have to stop using perfume altogether, but just know which houses take care in the way they run their business. There are many family-owned houses who are completely independent and do not go through commercial mass production flow.
Me too. I will not get a perfume, fragrance or Cologne again and asked that others don't get me one either. We grow lemon verbena, rosemary, lavender, lovage. We can use those to fragrance our clothes and that's enough. Not supporting huge business that tell us how successful they made profits...
If people stop buying perfume the families won't get paid ⛳
@@nichegoseberazdvatriit’s very easy and cheap to make your own perfume. And so is shampoo and soaps and is also better in terms of ingredients cos u can make them free of harmful chemicals. Problem is majority of people are too lazy. And even those who complain they don’t have much money still spend money buying expensive perfumes and shampoos 😂.
@@i.JoanaT I would love to learn how I can make them. People who take time to master the skill probably don't have 12-hour a day job, and it's not a priority for them. I would love to make my own clothes, perfume, shampoo, build my own house free from led. lol I could take time to learn to do all that. But I also need to be jobless and spend time to learn all these things. Also one needs to buy ingredients to make perfume, and know which combinations will not cause ingredients to go stinky lol
I don't think its the strong smell of Jasmine but the pesticides who are threatening their health 😢
The smell can actually affect someone's health especially if they are allergic to it.I am actually allergic to jasmine and don't like anything jasmine in it bse it affects me badly though I agree with you that pesticides play a big health risk too
Lool special English ppl are allergic to everything....they are a jokes!
Jasmine Essential oil is one of the most strongest smell 😂
If you think perfume is bad you should investigate the minerals used to make cell phones. Horrifying.
They have, and there is an equally excellent documentary about that too
Everything is messed up honestly😢
Thank you for making this excellent documentary to make this serious issue globally aware.
But how come you guys didn’t ask the Egyptian Government? You seem to have skipped them completely🤦🏽♀️
Would that have changed the fact that the perfume industry stinks of exploitation?
yep easier to blame the horrible "west" not the local government... There are poor ppl in europe who live under 100 euros a month in poor parts of east europe, but you still dont see that there. There is a demographic crisis though. Egypt is not a poor country. Its like blaming the west for poor treatment of women in muslim countries..
No one blame the west here , the blame is on companies and there supply chain and of course the Egyptian government @@KOldridge1
The local governments are probably staying silent cause this is the only source of income to this village, it's either slavery or absolute extreme poverty and so they choose the former
Then what about sexual exploitation of women in western countries @@KOldridge1
So sad makes me think twice before buying another perfume
😢 💔
The involvement is not only limited to perfumes with luxury brands on it, it involved the normal household keeping agents with brand tags as well. Like room/air fresheners and cosmetics as well. such an irony that humans demand making human slave to human to this certain level of extortion & greediness. thank you so much BBC world for this coverage.
and? there is a surplus of labor. and why? THE poor are cruel and keep having kids.
@@sesspessstop commenting under each comment showing HUMANITY and criticizing the poor people and having the audacity to call them cruel when heartless ppl like you are cruel and just bootlick these corrupted companies. YOUR A MONSTER WHO HAS NO EMPATHY. Take some accountability
and you really think that with the price of most airfreshners you are getting even a drop of natural Jasmine in there? Dream on!
This hurts...this also changed my mind on buying perfume and trying make a simple healthier body spray or something ❤
Stop exposing the children and start exposing those who are exploiting them.
The Egyptian doctor didn't seem surprised that a 10 year old was working 6 hours a night.
who is to blame? the father who is poor and keeps having his fun in bed with women.
I was surprised myself. Like, is it considered normal?
@@LizzAbade They couldn't be bothered. As long as they make heaps of money! God will deal with them.
What can she really do about it? She might be a doctor, but does she have any real power to change the situation? All she can do is care for them as best as possible.
What can a doctor do in this situation? It's the family's financial situation causing this and she can't fix that, she can only help her.
Absolutely disgusting I stopped buying these big brands a long time ago I make my own fragrance
Isnt that the same thing? You are buying your Jasmine extrait from these same people too
@@gezimsmajlaj3879 Not if she buys lockaly.
eco chic! go, you!
That’s great 😊 Any tips for those looking to do the same?
@@gezimsmajlaj3879not true. I make my own perfume too and buy organic essential oils and a few that are fragrance oils that are sourced from small family owned businesses. You just need to research and you’ll find it. It’s still a lot cheaper than buying a branded one and everyone asks me what perfume I wear cos they think it’s gorgeous 😊
It is inappropriate that A. Fakhry and Co. uses an independent collectors and farmers loophole in legislation and regulations. It is precisely that loophole that leads to the exploitation and violation of the pickers' human rights.
Exactly. They should be employees.
this is the reality of what these “gig” economies are trying to do, sidestep the protections and legal regulations keeping them from exploiting their workforce.
we need more worker protections at every level, in every corner of the globe.
It's also important to understand that *the ingredients of 'fragrance' don't need to be disclosed as it's a trade secret. So, anything could be in the ingredients. The skin is our biggest organ. Think about what we are putting onto and into our bodies as well as doing to others who breathe that in.
BBC you put these children in the spot and I bet they have paid the price! That little girl wants to be a doctor you should fund that for her! You would of failed her future with this documentary!
Ahmed Mesilhy, the head of the Child Defense Network, has highlighted the grim reality of child labor in Egypt. He states that child labor is primarily linked to poverty and the deteriorating economic conditions of families
One thing we as consumers can do is to NOT buy perfumes.
Yeah the problem is the people who are buying lots of these are stupid rich people that are never gonna care about these issues. They aren't the types to watch a documentary on bbc and give a shit.
It’s not only the perfume industry. Those who live in poverty are exploited. Greedy companies take advantage of those without bargaining power.
If we don’t buy then what? What if all consumers stop buying and then industry dies, the families who rely on this job will be even more impoverished. We need laws to ensure they are compensated fairly and no ethical infringement happened in the sourcing process.
Except indians. Imagine the BO
pretty much everything involves exploitation, including makeup products, clothing, gold, battery technology, advanced technology. it's impossible to avoid.
Great journalism. Thank you.
It was truly heartbreaking. Thank you to BBC Documentaries for broadening our perspectives.
It’s not the only perfume industry being greedy. Clothes we are wearing everyday came from cheap labor China. Yes, Prada also manufactured most in China too. No matter ppl buying those shits always there are ppl sacrifice their time and labor- we can’t be free from this system.. only company wins this game and smile one us all the time..not the costumers… BBc Do not even try inject guiltiness to costumers buying their product .. don’t get me wrong l, I hate perfumes and always run away when I need to be with someone wearing heavy perfume and sharing same air with them too 🤢🤢🤢
Thank you as always BBC 🙏🏾
Sadly it's one of these cases where there are so many factors at play. Especially when you're dealing with a lengthy supply chain that crosses geographical, cultural and financial borders, as is often the case in perfumery given that there is a desire from consumers to want products containing expensive and luxury ingredients.
Even if Givaudan/Firmenich etc were to dictate to the jasmine factories how much they should pay the suppliers, it doesn't then mean that the suppliers would have obligation to pay the independent farmers any more money. It could also mean that the jasmine farm owners could dictate the farmers pay them a larger sum for the right to pick from their farm if larger pay created a competitive work force.
On top of this, it seems so much of the issue with how much the farmers are being paid is dictated by the dwindling value of the Egyptian Pound. The value of the pound fell drastically again this year to the point where it is now only worth a fifth of what it was 4 years ago. So even with the amount that is being paid by fragrance companies, the Egyptian part of the supply chain is now only seeing a fifth of what they once made even a short while ago. This then creates the issue where those on the poverty line who want enough money to live, will bring their children along to pick with them, creating the issue of child slavery. It should be on the likes of Givaudan to set a baseline of value, so if currency value decreases, they would just have to drastically increase the price they pay for the material to compensate, and the end companies such as Estee Lauder would need to accept that this will mean a small reduction in profits if they want to sell a product containing Night Blooming Jasmine, or they can increase the price of the end product, but that could see them with an even larger reduction in profits, so that's up to them as a business to decide how best to price their products.
Thank you for this detailed comment!
These pickers are working for $1.00-$1.40 per day which is sizeably less than the minimum wage of $73 mthly.
💔
Absolutely appalling. My heart breaks for these poor families & children. I will definitely be writing an article about this!!
As a perfume collector, I feel shattered about this situation. Oh my Lord. How can we help this people? How to prevent all these big companies from taking advantage of the vulnerable ones? I’m devastated
Farmers should be more protected by the government. Unfortunately so many governments in Africa do not do that. I do not see how hard it is to pay $5 per kilo. Such a shame.
This happens in lots of industries..not only in perfume industry..
The components for batteries for electric cars..they are also searched by kids (Madagascar) in mines, because there are very narrow holes..
I never knew jasmine oil came from Egypt, I figured it was an Asian country. In Chicago, many Asian American store owners sell jasmine plants, they costs between $15-22 dollars. I adore the scent of jasmine, but this documentary opens my eyes.
Educating ourselves in many things taken for granted can be very mind blowing.
I do not understand! These children arent allowed to be children. This breaks my heart. My children never knew how good they really had it. Kids today dont know.
Where is the father?? Why isn‘t he taking care of his wife and three kids? God bless and help these mothers and children ❤
He could be enslaved in a different field. Many scenarios play in mind and I can't make wrong assumptions about people. God bless the mothers and the children who do everything to get by.
I was thinking the same, although it isn't the main topic. Because women don't have children just out of air
@@AmenProletar who cares? he would be treated as slave as well. we are here interested in not exploiting children, mister!!!!!
Most likely with his other wife and family. It's the sad truth of poverty in Egypt.
@@ramenomirice2767 False, doubt they're even married officially cause officially marriages cost some cash, he's very likely slaving away in some other field of work possibly construction and is breaking himself in order to get paid and sends less than 20 cents back home to his family everyday it is hell for that family and you can see it in the malnourished miserable children, the depressed mother, the absent father.
Every where it’s the same no matter where ,the big companies make the big bukks and the little guys get paid peanuts, every where it’s the same story
Big companies should be held accountable for this
*Ooh my God I remember the Jasmine flower just falling off our garden tree and all the scent would scatter inside our house. Approximately 70% of houses in the Middle East would have the tree grown in their house* 😅❤
Damn thanks BBC for this, hope things will get better
A very good investigation that lits light on the dark side of luxury business. Unfortunately it left me full of questions: what shall I do as a consumer? Will the fact that I stop buying those perfumes end the misery of those underpaid people or worsen their situation because they will be left without work whatsoever? How can I as a consumer get though the whole production chain? What shall be done on legal and social level to help those people get their fair wages? These issues affect not only the perfume industry but other industries too such as textile and food industries for example: What we need is more more awareness and knowledge on the subject.
Thanks to the BBC for making such a report, let me know the working environment at the bottom of the perfume industry chain. In addition to the legislation mentioned in the video, the luxury goods company and masters assume the corresponding social responsibility, commissioning an independent body to review the more transparent industry chain. I think the local government also needs to strengthen the construction of infrastructure and enrich the employment options of local residents. What I see in this video is that flower pickers have no better source of income than gathering jasmine flowers.
In addition, I would also like to say that $300 perfume is still too far from my life, and this is the problem of the gap between rich and poor.
What happens to the children and their parent’s, if the ban is enforced? This is a complex issue… having lived in a country that uses child labor for seven years, these parents are dependent on these jobs.
I think the problem is that despite the end product being expensive, that is not going down stream of the supply chain. The perfume industry is exploitative, and thats why these people are dependent on child labor.
The problem is purely on those who profit off the product, and uses these products, either knowingly pr unknowingly. The problem is with us, in the first world country
I think that it can happen in many industries, not just perfume industry. Due to the influence of globalisation, supply chains have been transmitted to many developing countries to reduce cost. Secondly, these families have rights to make their children rest if they think health of children is more important.
One perfume bottle so expensive but can't pay well...
The thing with these situations is that, that mother and her children are "independent contractors". I assume that make the mother directly and solely responsible for the child labour. There is nothing really to push the masters to do anything
Great doco, but some of the music overpowers the speaking so it's hard to hear
In most of the countries child labor is linked to poverty or lack of financial stability. It's a shame that even in the 21st century, many of our children in different parts of the world undergo a miserable life. Exploitation of our children continue in different forms. It is high time to abolish child labor in any forms by ensuring their rights to live a dignified life. Good documentary. 👏
perfume gives me headaches, I just used it because we were used to, but stop using it for 8 months and notice I feel great without it, but didn’t notice it before.. I will never use it again, they’re expensive and watching this is one more reason to stop buying.
Why can’t these companies pay these people a fair wage? I don’t get it. They’d be happy to even work for $10 a day. That’s nothing!
Bravo BBC. This is journalism.
Okay. But isn't this more the fault of the Egyptian government rather than the luxury brands? Right now, they are spending $100 billion to build a capital far away from the people, instead of spending that on modernizing their industries. The first one to turn a blind eye on this are the Egyptian bureaucrats.
The reason to build a new capital far away from the people is to prevent another Arab Spring! It'll be difficult for the citizens to match to the government and demand changes. Egyptian president was a former general, creating laws to prosper the citizens doesn't seem to be his priority. The middle class Egyptians seems to like him
Profit over people has always been the corporate model. Extracting as much profit for as little input.
I agree that it should be the priority of the Egyptian government to stop this modern form of slavery. Otherwise, What do you have a governement for?. Unfortunately, global economies work like this one way or another, it's simply criminal
Yes. Probably some sum going the politicians pockets too
True. Maybe it should be grown elsewhere. Egypt is a country that has wasted most of their income from an unending flow of tourism in just corruption and have little to show from all the years and years of visitors leaving them a lot of income.
All that work for a measly dollar?? This is exploitation. So terribly sad