Ecuador's Labour Ministry has appointed 12 child labour inspectors as of 2 April; a positive move in a country that, up until late last year, had none.

It has taken two years for any progress to be made in this area. In spring 2002, a Human Rights Watch report highlighted the Government's failure to implement international labour standards and found there were no child labour inspectors, even though the law calls for 22 - one for each province.

Child labour in the banana industry is one of the sectors of particular concern. The 2002 report found children as young as eight worked in hazardous conditions on plantations, for an average of 12 hours a day. They used sharp knives and were exposed to toxic pesticides violating the International Labour Organization's convention against the worst forms of child labour, which the Government had ratified.

According to reports, progress to end this abuse remains slow. It is vital both the Ecuadorian and international banana industries take responsibility for ensuring this exploitation is ended soon.