Chocolate the bitter truth
The BBC Panorama programme shown on the 24th March highlighted the problem of child labour on West African cocoa farms. These included some Fairtrade producers. With the use of child labour being so widespread in this area, it is not surprising that some Fairtrade suppliers were involved.
When the problem was identified by the Fairtrade auditors, the suppliers were immediately suspended from the Fairtrade system. This did not mean that the products they produce could not be sold (immediate cessation of trade could cause untold hardship to the families employed in growing the cocoa) but the producers were not allowed to enter into any new contracts and were given a very limited time in which to correct the problem.
The Fairtrade auditors then monitored the suppliers’ progress before re-instating their Fairtrade certification.
This does not mean that similar problems could not arise in future but the Fairtrade auditors will take similar action whenever a problem is found. You can purchase Fairtrade products with the confidence that the system is greatly improving the lives of all the families involved in producing the goods.
But are you prepared to pay more to help these families further?
Leslie Brown