Industry support against child labour
The cocoa and chocolate industry has backed an European Union (EU) resolution to fight child labour in the cocoa plantations of Africa, through supporting supply chain improvements and improving farmer organisation.
However, child labour is a complex issue and will be difficult to eradicate in the context of smallholder farming, which is the prevalent model for cocoa production, as for other cash crops, in the Sub-Saharan region. I think it is important to note that even using 100% certified cocoa doesn’t guarantee that child labour was not involved, as the farms are not audited daily.
The global cocoa and chocolate industry believes no child should ever be harmed in the growing and harvesting of cocoa.
Cocoa and chocolate companies do not have direct access to farms – cocoa beans are collected and dispatched by a series of local intermediaries.
That is why the industry works closely with partners, from producer country governments, to NGOs and a host of international organisations in order to find impactful, sustainable solutions.
Industry programmes have already made a difference to over a million vulnerable children in West Africa. Programmes focus on increasing access to education (building schools, training teachers), educating cocoa farmers on unacceptable labour practices, but also improving agricultural practices to ensure better yields and therefore better income for farmers.
