Source: CBS News. (n.d.). Children Harvesting Cocoa Used by Major Corporations in Ghana.
Child labor continues to plague the cocoa industry in Ghana, with major corporations such as Mars implicated in the use of cocoa harvested by children as young as 5 years old.
A recent investigation by CBS News has shed light on the grim reality faced by these children and the challenges they encounter in accessing education.
Mars, one of the leading chocolate manufacturers, has pledged to eliminate child labor from its supply chain by 2025. The company claims to have a monitoring system in place to ensure children are not working on cocoa plantations and are attending school instead. However, CBS News obtained beneficiary lists that revealed children still toiling in the fields, contradicting Mars’ claims.
Education opportunities are scarce for children like 15-year-old Munira, who has been working in cocoa fields since the age of 5. Due to the distance and cost, education becomes a luxury for Munira and her family. Despite receiving school supplies from Mars, no one verifies if she is actually attending school. Munira’s brother, Gafalo, also wishes to join his peers in the classroom but is currently engaged in cocoa harvesting.
The monitoring systems employed by Mars are proving to be inaccurate.
Field supervisors contracted by the company admit that beneficiary lists often contain fabricated or unverified information due to pressure to produce names quickly.
CBS News interviewed children whose names appeared on the lists, and none of them were attending school. Some names were even outright fabrications. At one school, only a third of registered students actually attend classes as they are also involved in cocoa harvesting.
Concerns extend beyond the labor practices in the fields. CBS News visited a cocoa warehouse in Ghana that supplies Mars and found that the employees could not guarantee that all cocoa handled there was produced without child labor.
Human rights lawyer Terry Collingsworth has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Mars after collecting statements from Ghanaian children working for Mars’ suppliers.
CBS News also witnessed a child almost losing his fingers to a machete blade while harvesting cocoa.
Mars has expressed condemnation for the use of child labor and has implemented a Supplier Code of Conduct with the expectation that all suppliers will have a Child Labor and Remediation System (CLMRS) by 2025. However, only 65% of Mars’ cocoa supply in West Africa is currently covered by CLMRS implemented by their suppliers. The company acknowledges the need for further action to eradicate child labor and is committed to collaborating with the cocoa sector.
As consumers, it is crucial for us to be aware of the realities behind the products we enjoy. By supporting companies that prioritize ethical sourcing and actively work towards eradicating child labor, we can contribute to a more sustainable and just cocoa industry.
