Mars Inc. accused of child labor in cocoa harvesting
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
11:40 PM – Thursday, November 30, 2023
Child Labor in Ghana’s Cocoa Farms Exposed
Children as young as 5-years-old in Ghana have been discovered using machetes almost as large as they are in order to harvest cocoa beans needed for some of America’s most popular chocolate bars and candy.
On Wednesday, an unnamed whistleblower from the company released a slew of insider information, which described how Mars, the American chocolate giant that supplies popular treats like M&Ms and Snickers, broke a pledge it made stating that it would discontinue the use of child labor in small subsistence farms in Africa.
A CBS News crew traveled to Ghana’s remote cocoa belt to find small subsistence farms that manufacture Mars’ candy products.
As a result, the crew discovered children, some as young as 5-years-old, working at the farms, even though the company had previously committed to have procedures put in place to “eliminate child labor in its supply chain.”
According to the crew, one child almost lost his fingers while slicing open the cocoa pods.
A 15-year-old girl named Munira told reporters that she had been working in the Ghana cocoa fields since she was 5-years-old, saying that her family “could not afford the cost of sending her to a school, which is an hour-long walk away.”
“I feel sad. I want to be, like, a medical doctor,” Munira told the press. “But my family doesn’t have money for school.”
Field operators at the cocoa farms who work for Mars, inc., claimed to reporters that they consistently create lists that list names of children who are “supposed to be kept away from the cocoa plantations” and enrolled in school.
Mars had previously promised that it would make sure that the children are attending school, however, field supervisors said that the candy company “never bothered” to confirm if this was actually the case.
When reporters asked Mars representatives about the use of child labor to manufacture their candy products, one spokesperson stated that “Mars unequivocally condemns the use of child labor,” and that it has “no place in our supply chain, and we are fully committed to helping to eradicate it.”
“CBS did not provide specific details of their investigation to Mars ahead of time in order for us to investigate the claims of misconduct at the time of this report,” the company spokesperson said. “Mars treats any claim of misconduct in our supply chain very seriously and pledges to thoroughly investigate once we have the necessary information and take appropriate action.”
Additionally, Mars posted a press statement regarding its cocoa manufacturers in Africa and the company’s agreements with child labor laws.
“Our cocoa manufacturers in Africa have agreed to adhere to our robust Supplier Code of Conduct and we have also been clear that they must have a Child Labor and Remediation System (CLMRS) in place by 2025 that complies with the industry-leading International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) standard,” the company said.
“To be clear, we condemn the use of child labor,” the company added. “We will continue to work diligently with parties across the cocoa sector to further help advance respect for human rights in the cocoa supply chain.”
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What were the findings of the CBS News crew’s investigation into child labor in Ghana’s cocoa farms?
Child Labor in Ghana’s Cocoa Farms Exposed
Child labor continues to be a persistent issue in various industries across the globe, showcasing the unethical practices that still exist despite international efforts to eradicate such practices. Recently, another shocking instance of child labor has come to light, this time in Ghana’s cocoa farms, which supply cocoa beans for some of America’s most beloved chocolate bars and candies.
An unnamed whistleblower from Mars, the American chocolate giant that produces popular treats like M&Ms and Snickers, released a trove of insider information on Wednesday. This information revealed that Mars had broken its pledge to discontinue the use of child labor in small, subsistence farms in Africa.
In response to these revelations, a CBS News crew journeyed to Ghana’s remote cocoa belt to investigate the matter firsthand. Their findings were alarming, with children as young as five years old working on the farms, utilizing machetes nearly as large as themselves to harvest cocoa beans. This discovery directly contradicted Mars’ claims of implementing procedures to eliminate child labor in its supply chain.
The CBS crew documented several distressing instances, including one child who nearly lost his fingers while slicing open cocoa pods. They also interviewed a 15-year-old girl named Munira, who had been working in the Ghana cocoa fields since the tender age of five. Munira expressed her desire to become a medical doctor but lamented that her family could not afford to send her to school, which was an hour-long walk away.
Field operators at the cocoa farms, who work for Mars, claimed that they consistently created lists to keep children away from the plantations and enrolled them in school. However, they revealed that Mars never bothered to confirm if this was happening as promised.
Once confronted with these allegations, Mars’ representatives condemned the use of child labor unequivocally. They emphasized that such practices had no place in their supply chain and pledged to eradicate them. Mars stated that any claims of misconduct in their supply chain would be investigated thoroughly and appropriate action taken.
Furthermore, Mars posted a press statement asserting its commitment to adhering to a robust Supplier Code of Conduct and ensuring that its cocoa manufacturers in Africa implement a Child Labor and Remediation System (CLMRS) by 2025, compliant with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) standard.
It is crucial to note that CBS did not provide specific details of their investigation to Mars ahead of time to enable the company to address the claims promptly. However, Mars vows to act upon receiving the necessary information.
The exposure of child labor in Ghana’s cocoa farms highlights the exploitation that persists in certain industries, even within renowned companies. Such revelations call for increased vigilance, global cooperation, and stricter regulations to protect the rights and well-being of vulnerable children worldwide.
By bringing these issues to light and holding companies accountable, we can strive towards a future where child labor becomes nothing more than an unfortunate memory of the past.
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