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“Child labour is a global problem that has attracted much discussion. An approach to solve this problem is the use of fair trade, that:
 

• relies on market incentives and private monitoring that punish unfair trade companies;

• is voluntary and private, avoids political problems which end in punishments;

• focuses not only on problems concerning child labour and trafficking but also
  on improving incomes, working conditions, health, and education of a large number of workers.”

 

THE ARTICLE
 

Fair trade is a social movement whose goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainable farming. The movement focuses in particular on goods, or products which are typically exported from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, wine and sugar.

A huge percentage of the world’s chocolate comes from small farms in West Africa, and unfortunately, many of those farms are using child slaves – in particular, the Ivory Coast.

In 2001 the large chocolate companies promised to remove slavery from their supply, but any changes have been made and nowadays are very slowly. 

 

How It Happens

Child cocoa slaves are trafficked into West Africa from neighboring countries. Sometimes traffickers promise the boy: money, bicycles, and a chance to give their parents a better life.

But, when the boys arrive on farms, find these promises broken. Instead of a better life, they are thrown in small huts and forced to work against their wills for no pay, sleeping  on wooden planks. The cacao beans get mixed together with other beans from around the world. By the time you bite into that delicious fudge  brownie, slave beans and free beans have been blended too many times to know which chocolate is tainted with the blood of child slaves.

 

Why It Happens

The problem is complicated,. extreme poverty and low pay from the large chocolate companies force many farmers to cut costs in order to survive. Corrupt government systems don’t stop these injustice and consumers demand the cheapest goods possible.

Journalists, that wrote news and reports, have been silenced by being captured and killed.

 

UNFAIR  AND FAIR COMPANIES
 

1. Hershey

2. Mars

3. Nestlè

4. ADM Cocoa

5. Godiva

6. Fowler’s Chocolate

7. Kraft

8. See’s Candies

9. Guittard Chocolate Company
    

Despite these unfair brands, there are companies which try to stop this illegal trade, selling slave-free chocolate that are available in almost all store.
 

1. Divine Chocolate;

2. Equal exchange

3. Endangered Species Chocolate

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THE SOLUTION

If consumers change their spending habits to reflect the hatred for the child slave trade, cacao farmers will stop trafficking young people.

That is what Fair Trade and Slave-Free chocolate can do. By buying certified Fair Trade or Slave-Free products, consumers can be sure that none of the chocolate they eat is coming from farms that uses child slavery.

In addition, many Fair Trade and Slave-Free brands put their profits back into the cacao farms and communities. Instead of supporting children slavery, one candy bar can support education and sustainable farming in nations where children are at a great risk of trafficking.