Since 2001, major chocolate companies have been under scrutiny for chilad and trafficked labor in their cocoa supply chains. Through the Harkin-Engel Protocol, the chocolate companies were supposed to set up a certification program by July 2005 to show that the cocoa they use was not produced by the worst forms of child labor. When they failed to meet that deadline, they changed their commitment to cover only 50% of their cocoa by July 2008. Last July, the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) released a new report analyzing industry progress so far (or lack thereof). Sadly, many years have passed and millions of dollars have been spent, but consumers still cannot be assured that many of the major chocolate companies like Hershey, Mars and Nestle are not using cocoa made by child labor.
For Valentine's Day this year, ILRF released a new chocolate company scorecard that ranks many companies based on their actions to end child labor and ensure transparency in their supply chains. While Hershey, Mars and Nestle continue to end up on the "bitter" end of our scorecard, there are several very "sweet" companies we highlight in the new scorecard, so check it out!
It is important that companies like Hershey, Mars and Nestle publicly inform consumers about what specific supply chain management initiatives each of these companies is using to ensure that their cocoa sourcing respects worker rights. You can send an e-mail to these companies here!
We've heard a lot over the years about how these companies are working through industry associations, but ILRF has raised concerns about many of these programs. For example, check out this letter ILRF wrote with other organizations and companies about the major companies' problematic child labor "certification" program. By the way, the original Harkin-Engel Protocol required that a certification program be established to show that "cocoa beans and their derivative products have been grown and/or processed without the worst forms of child labor." Now, the chocolate industry is saying that their best hopes for 2010 for the "certification process" they have set up is to "ideally, over time... indicate an improvement in the status of child and adult labor practices."
Last Valentine's Day, journalist Christian Parenti wrote a must-read article for Fortune magazine discussing the lack of progress the chocolate industry has been making on the ground in Cote d'Ivoire and specifically highlights problems with some projects funded by the International Cocoa Initiative and the World Cocoa Foundation. I also highly recommend checking out Parenti's debate with Bill Guyton from the World Cocoa Foundation on Democracy Now.
This year, we want to get beyond the talking points we have been hearing to find out what Hershey, Mars and Nestle are doing individually to comply with international labor standards in their cocoa sourcing. So, please show your love for cocoa farmers and send these companies an e-mail today!