Child Labor in Cocoa Industries
Western African Countries
About The Cocoa Industries
Chocolate is a product of the cocoa bean,which grows primarily in the tropical climate of Western Africa. In addition, Cocoa beans are a commodity crop gown for export in West Africa. Moreover,in Western African countries,mostly Ghana and Ivory Coast supplies more than 70% of the world's cocoa.
Cocoa Industries Payments $$
As the chocolate industry have grown over the years, so has the demand of the cheap cocoa. On average days the cocoa farmers earn less than 2 dollars a day.On top of that , the children in Western Africa are surrounded by intense
poverty and most began at a young age to support their families.
Children on the Cocoa Farm
Most of the children on the cocoa farms are around the age of 12-16, but some people reported that there are kids as young as the age of 5 years old. In addition, on the cocoa farms 10% of the child labor in Ghana and 40% in Ivoury Coast do not go to school, which violates the International Labor Organization (ILO) Child Labor Standards.
The Injuries the Kids get by working on the Cocoa Farms
Children farming cocoa spend their day on the cocoa from the highest branch in the forest and splitting the cocoa bean pod open with machetes. Moreover, many African's suffer from injuries. Such as, dangerous pesticides and carrying heavy loads as well facing long, punishing hours, and working in the exausting heat.This is extremely hazardous and a horrible risk for the child’s health.
Chocolate Companies that uses Child Labor
The chocolate industry makes an estimate of $110 billion a year, and yet the crop is grown by some of the poorest people on the planet, in plantations that can hide the worst forms of child labor.
Moreover, the farms in West Africa supply cocoa to companies such as: Hershey, NESTLE, Mars, and many more for years now!
When ever you are about to buy a single picece of chocolate, just remeber all the torture the young kids went through on the fields, being exposed to all the chemicals and many dangerous weapons.
Made By:Abraham Video Made By: Joe
The group is Damari,Joe,Rebecca