Child Labor for Chocolate
Although child labor was abolished years ago, it was only abolished in first world countries such as England and the United States. It is an ongoing problem in other parts of the world. In West Africa, child labor is still a big part of their society. West Africa's main business is the cocoa bean. More than one third of the world's cocoa supply comes from the Ivory Coast. Cocoa is in high demand right now, but suppliers are not willing to pay much for it. Cocoa farmers struggle to make a living, so they resort to a cheap labor, children.
Child labor on the cocoa farms has been a major problem, that has only recently come to the public's attention. These children put in grueling, long hours for little or no pay. The process of harvesting these beans is a dangerous and hard job. Children climb up the cocoa trees and then hack down the beans using a machete. These machetes are dangerous and heavy, but they are a standard tool in the cocoa business. After the beans are cut down, they are put into sacks and children drag them back to the farms through the forest. This is not an easy task. “Some of the bags were taller than me. It took two people to put the bag on my head. And when you didn't hurry, you were beaten.” says Aly Diabate, former cocoa slave.
The children that are on these farms end up there for a number of reasons. Some need the income to support their families or need work and are told the pay is good. Others are taken against their will. Relatives will sell them for some extra cash, or they are abducted off the streets. The kids on these farms can be there for a few months or as long as a couple years. There is no escape from this nightmare. Cases have been documented where children were locked in at night to prevent escaping. The punishments for attempted escape are severe, such as being whipped. Diabate told reporters: “The beatings were a part of my life. I had seen others who tried to escape. When they tried they were severely beaten.”
The events that occur on these farms violate the International Labor Organization. These standards are pushed to the side, so children are likely to harm their health, safety, and morals. They are also deprived of an education. These acts do not only violate the ILO but they violate the basic rights of humanity.
Although child labor was abolished years ago, it was only abolished in first world countries such as England and the United States. It is an ongoing problem in other parts of the world. In West Africa, child labor is still a big part of their society. West Africa's main business is the cocoa bean. More than one third of the world's cocoa supply comes from the Ivory Coast. Cocoa is in high demand right now, but suppliers are not willing to pay much for it. Cocoa farmers struggle to make a living, so they resort to a cheap labor, children.
Child labor on the cocoa farms has been a major problem, that has only recently come to the public's attention. These children put in grueling, long hours for little or no pay. The process of harvesting these beans is a dangerous and hard job. Children climb up the cocoa trees and then hack down the beans using a machete. These machetes are dangerous and heavy, but they are a standard tool in the cocoa business. After the beans are cut down, they are put into sacks and children drag them back to the farms through the forest. This is not an easy task. “Some of the bags were taller than me. It took two people to put the bag on my head. And when you didn't hurry, you were beaten.” says Aly Diabate, former cocoa slave.
The children that are on these farms end up there for a number of reasons. Some need the income to support their families or need work and are told the pay is good. Others are taken against their will. Relatives will sell them for some extra cash, or they are abducted off the streets. The kids on these farms can be there for a few months or as long as a couple years. There is no escape from this nightmare. Cases have been documented where children were locked in at night to prevent escaping. The punishments for attempted escape are severe, such as being whipped. Diabate told reporters: “The beatings were a part of my life. I had seen others who tried to escape. When they tried they were severely beaten.”
The events that occur on these farms violate the International Labor Organization. These standards are pushed to the side, so children are likely to harm their health, safety, and morals. They are also deprived of an education. These acts do not only violate the ILO but they violate the basic rights of humanity.