The companies that make up the Honduran Association of Agricultural Exporters of Melon South (Asohagromesur) do not share or implement child labor practices, said the president of Asohagromesur Juan Carlos Rosales.
Asohagromesur is made up by Agrolibano, Agroindustries Distex, Sur Agricola de Honduras (Suragroh), and Agroindustrias Pacifico.
The manager said the association had released a statement emphasizing that the melon producers had no child labor in their companies. "We believe that our children should be in school studying and striving to be successful professionals when they grow up."
"The companies want to stress via this statement that they are against child labor, that they don't practice it, and that they continue to be a part of the Eradication of child labor Program of the State of Honduras," Rosales said.
According to Rosales, the companies issued this statement following the news stating that melon exports to the US market would be restricted because they used child labor.
Strategic planning
The president of Asohagromesur said melon exports had not been affected yet and that they were following up the 2016-2020 Strategic Planning established by the Honduran government to declare the country free of child labor.
"We want to inform the national and international public community that we categorically reject the assertions of parties interested in damaging the melon sector in the south by saying that we have child labor, which is totally false," Rosales reiterated.
Exports
According to Rosales, producers from the south export 100% of their melon production.
The executive added that he didn't have the exact amount made by melon exports to the US and parts of Europe.
"The companies in Asohagromesur generate millions of foreign revenues that benefit the country," Rosales said.
The melon industry generates 12,000 indirect jobs.
Source: laprensa.hn