LONDON, Safar 18, 1436, Dec 10, 2014, SPA -- Several of the world's biggest tobacco companies pledged on Wednesday to end child labour in their supply chains, a landmark agreement rights group said could protect thousands of children from hazardous work in tobacco fields. Reuters cited Human Rights Watch (HRW) as saying that it was the first time that members of the tobacco industry had jointly agreed to abide by international labour law, which prohibits hazardous work by children under 18 and the employment of children under 15. Philip Morris International, Japan Tobacco International and British American Tobacco were among the firms that signed the pledge, which was announced by the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing (ECLT) Foundation, an industry-supported initiative based in Geneva. -- SPA 21:57 LOCAL TIME 18:57 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w