Philip Morris , British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands may be using leaves picked by exploited African workers to exploit their customers in Italy ’s € 149 million ( $ 166 million ) tobacco industry . “I woke up at 4am. The companies bought 60 % of the Italy 's harvest in 2017 , according to the American Leaf Tobacco Interbranch , but employees , including children , may have been forced to work up to 12 hours a day without contracts or health and safety measures . The companies said their suppliers followed strict regulations on worker treatment . Philip Morris said it had not found any abuse , while Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco said they would investigate complaints .
Philip Morris , British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands may be using leaves picked by exploited African workers to exploit their customers in Italy ’s € 149 million ( $ 166 million ) tobacco industry . The companies bought 60 % of the Italy 's harvest in 2017 , according to the American Leaf Tobacco Interbranch , but employees , including children , may have been forced to work up to 12 hours a day without contracts or health and safety measures . The companies said their suppliers followed strict regulations on worker treatment . Philip Morris said it had not found any abuse , while Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco said they would investigate complaints .