One of the central planks of the anti-globalisation/anti-capitalist movement is the exploitation of workers in underdeveloped countries.

Western companies have been singled out by protesters for engaging in such practices and many have had to defend themselves vigorously in the media, most notably Nike.

One of the most emotive of the exploitation issues concerns child labour and this is the subject of a detailed account by Jeremy Seabrook in this book.

However, rather than tackling the issue on a broad front and dispersing the force of his argument, he concentrates on drawing a comparison with modern day Bangladesh and the "dark, satanic mills" of the industrial revolution, where child labour was an accepted part of the workforce.

He also draws in the issue of slavery, which was a significant part of the British colonial economy until its abolition in 1807. Seabrook points out that the same arguments trotted out 200 years ago to defend such abuses - the market demands it, if we didn't do it somebody else would - have echoes today.

Apologists for child labour didn't disappear as living conditions grew better and the children of the poor ceased to be cheap labour and became citizens with rights.

Seabrook paints a harrowing picture of life for children cut loose from their family unit by economic or other pressures. The practice of selling children goes on and Seabrook uses the example of children being sold into the United Arab Emirates as camel jockeys - a practice that was officially banned in 1993 but still continues to this day.

Families get £12 (#15.25) to £20 for a child, who is then kept half-starved, as the lighter they are the better. Seabrook also highlights the massive gulf between word and deed, as agencies attempting to apply the various agreements and conventions on child labour run into, at best, a wall of indifference and, at worst, obstruction from the indigenous agencies charged with policing. He describes a visit to a factory in 1998 where, after being reluctantly admitted, he saw the last of the under-age children being led off the floor.

Seabrook also points out that Western action, while having the best of intentions, can impact negatively due to lack of understanding, lack of resources and unclear objectives.

Harkin's US congressional bill banned the importation of garments produced by child labour in Bangladesh, which was the seventh-largest exporter of garments to the US. The factories emptied and the educational and compensatory elements of the bill were inadequate, thus the circumstances of the children were worsened.

Seabrook has crafted an informative tale of the darker side of capitalism. His writing ability is only let down by the design of the book, which is off-putting. His empathy for the children he meets shines through, although his restrained anger is evident. Excellent.

comidheach@irish-times.ie