Child Labor: The Effects Of Child Labour In The Chocolate World

Child labour is work done by children which deprives them of their childhood, self-respect and potential. Furthermore, it is damaging to both their mental and physical wellbeing (International Labour Organization, n.d.). Child labour in the production of cocoa beans may be able to bring in money to Côte d’Ivoire, allowing it to progress economically (O’Keefe, 2016), and also bring large amounts of profit to confectionary powerhouses like Nestle (O’Keefe, 2016) and lastly, allow families to survive with the vital income that the children are providing (International Labour Organization, 2004). However, child labour not only demands hard work from children in unsafe environments often for long hours, it is also morally wrong, especially since child labour exists many of times in the worst forms in Côte d’Ivoire. Children are being trafficked from their homes in neighboring West African countries, put to work in cocoa farms and “whipped, beaten and forced to work (on the plantation) for 14 hours a day before retiring to dank, dark rooms

Stopping the use of child labour would help with the company’s reputation. Buying a product with child labour in its production would cause consumers to feel shame, thus there may be a consumer boycott to that particular brand where customers would choose to buy from other cruelty-free chocolate brands or Fair Trade Certified chocolate brands— where farmers’ incomes are raised so they have enough money to hire adult workers and communities would also receive financial aids to invest in education for children — like TCHO instead (Fair Trade USA, 2016). Without child labour in its production, customers would continue buying the company's products in a peace of mind. Furthermore, shareholders would also benefit from the chocolate company’s good reputation as they are able to hold on to their morals and also get large amounts of