It\u2019s hard to imagine that something that brings so much joy can be linked to so much harm. And yet, the cocoa sector faces deep, structural problems rooted primarily in systemic poverty. Deforestation and child labour are among its most devastating consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire and Ghana alone, 45% of cocoagrowing households face a high risk of child labour. According to the latest figures from the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)<\/a>, 1.56 million children are engaged in child labour in the cocoa sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all work done by children is automatically considered child labour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In West Africa, child labour is still far too common in cocoa production. Children haul 50kg bags, use machetes, or handle pesticides, clear signs of a global supply chain that fails to protect them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is unacceptable and it will not disappear on its own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the heart of the issue lies persistent, structural poverty. Many cocoa farmers simply do not earn enough to live on. They are often paid only once a year, at harvest time. School fees, however, must be paid before<\/em> that. When money is tight, families face impossible choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In households with many children (on average five), this can mean sending one child to school while another stays home. Girls are often the first to be excluded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In remote rural areas, even basic infrastructure is missing. No school building. No trained teachers. No safe road to get there. Some children do not even have a birth certificate, officially, they \u201cdon\u2019t exist,\u201d and therefore cannot enrol in school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the world\u2019s largest chocolate corporations reap huge profits. Chocolate is a $130 billion industry, built on the labour of small-scale farmers. And a big part of those benefits goes straight into the pockets of their shareholders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as farmers lack a living income, the risk of child labour remains constant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fairtrade chocolate isn\u2019t a marketing slogan, it\u2019s a different way of doing business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At Oxfam Fair Trade, we pay: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does this matter? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because whenever cocoa prices fall, child labour goes up. A decent income means access to schooling, food, and healthcare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But fair trade goes beyond price: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, a living income is the foundation for ending child labour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Words alone don\u2019t change systems. That\u2019s why we take concrete action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Registering Children<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our colleague Julien Tayoro works in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire with the CPR Canaan cooperative<\/a> to identify children without official birth certificates and ensure they receive one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It may seem like a minor administrative formality, but its impact is enormous. Without a birth certificate, a child cannot enrol in school. They are invisible on paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why doesn\u2019t registration happen automatically? Because it costs money. For families surviving on very low incomes, even small administrative fees can be a barrier, especially in remote areas where registration offices are far away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By helping these children obtain legal identification, we increase their chances of going to school and reduce the risk of child labour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Awarenessraising and community watch committees<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Within the CPR Canaan cooperative, a Vigilance Committee monitors cases of child labour, under the supervision of ICI. If a child is seen working on a cocoa farm, trained teams speak with the parents to explain the risks and alternatives. Sensitisation is key, with particular attention to girls, who are disproportionately affected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Investing in schools and infrastructure<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fairtrade premiums are also used for tangible improvements: <\/p>\n\n\n\n This multilayered approach tackles child labour on several fronts: income, awareness, and essential infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\nChild labour in cocoa: What\u2019s the difference? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Where does child labour come from? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fairtrade Chocolate: More than a living income<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What does Bite to Fight do in practice?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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