India’s sugar cane industry prioritises profits over workers’ welfare

With a record-breaking 30 million tonnes of sugar produced last year, India recently became the world’s largest sugar producer, surpassing Brazil. But at what cost? Every year, from September to March, over 1.4 million Indian workers migrate internally, searching for work in sugar cane fields. The labourers are paid a meager €300 to €400 for six months of hard toil, with only one day off per month. Our correspondents report on this form of modern slavery for millions of Indians.