Public Policy on Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry

Ecuador is the biggest fine or flavor cocoa exporter of the world. Since chocolate is a billion dollar industry, one would think cocoa farmers would be benefit fairly. However, when the production chain is analyzed, one can find large differences between the working conditions of cocoa farmers and the chocolate factory employees. Still in the 21stcentury there exists a large amount of child labor in cocoa producing countries. Meanwhile in the chocolate factories (which are mainly located in developed countries), the transnational corporations boast about their compromise with ethics, particularly human rights and environmental protection.
This reality is a reflection of the income distribution inequality in the production and marketing of cocoa-based products. It is estimated that 70% of the final price of the product is received by transnational companies, while farmers receive only 5% of the final price . This 5% often does not help the farmers to cover the costs of production. This means that the market structure leaves the producers with little ability to make decisions and makes them unlikely to pursue active participation in the definition of international economic rules. Moreover, this forces the farmers to produce at the lowest possible cost, which affects the working conditions of farmers.

Currently, children between the ages of 5-14 are actively employed in the cocoa industry. I have first hand knowledge of this due to not just having networked with representatives from African countries at the International Cocoa Organization, but also by being the descendant of cocoa farmers myself. This problem is not exclusive to Ecuador, Africa, and their relation to cocoa but to multiples industries in underdeveloped countries al...

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... use education as an empowerment tool through which people can improve their quality of life. It is necessary to show farmers and society examples of their children’s potential and how this potential is wasted by forcing them to work versus going to school. Society also has to be encouraged to report cases of child labor exploitation and most importantly we need to educate children about their rights so they can identify themselves when these rights are violated.

Governments, international agencies and the civil societies of each country need to commit to not let education and other development drivers fail. Goals such as fair income distribution in the cocoa production chain and the elimination of child labor can become realistic goals if all stakeholders take responsibility in their policy-making efforts, law enforcement, budgetary measures, and developmental aid.