Labour Practices, the Global Industry Group ( GIG ) and the International Cocoa Initiative ( ICI )

The chocolate and cocoa industries have been working for many years with farmers to improve their standard of living through a sustainable cocoa economy. The Global Industry Group ( GIG ) now coordinates industry efforts regarding social development and labour practices. The International Cocoa Initiative ( ICI ) is a joint - industry/non-industry - partnership foundation, which aim is “to oversee and sustain efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour and forced labour in the growing and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products” . Alongside participation in the ICI programmes, the GIG is working towards a certification process, in line with its commitment in the September 2001 Protocol, and the mid-2008 intermediate implementation. In this project, it is working closely with the authorities in the origin countries, and with other interested parties such as the ILO. ECA is a founding member of both the GIG and the ICI , representing all its own members and ensuring full participation of the European cocoa chain.

The "child labour" issue, the Global Industry Group (GIG) and the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)

The chocolate and cocoa industries pride themselves in their consistent socially responsible attitude. They are working together with other stakeholders to promote responsible cocoa growing; towards eliminating abusive child labour practices in the growing and processing of cocoa. ECA and its members were and remain in the forefront of such action, as seen below.

The issue is not an easy one. Cocoa is grown in tropical climates, and over 60% originates from West Africa , planted by over a million smallholders often in remote areas. The domestic chain from planter to export company is a complex one, involving e.g. in the Ivory Coast a series of intermediaries (cooperatives, pisteurs, traitants, etc.).

At the end of 2000 and in the spring of 2001, a couple of media reports alleged of rampant slavery and forced child labour by these farmers. The industry reacted strongly to these allegations, which it considered false and excessive.

In April 2001, ECA affirmed it was "fully committed to sustainable development in cocoa producing countries and does not tolerate practices such as slavery and child labour [and that it] remains fully committed to maintain pressure on the relevant authorities, and to pursue all avenues in order to eliminate such practices where they are proven to occur" [press release] In August 2001, ECA restated it was "concerned by the recent allegations regarding working practices in cocoa production in the Ivory Coast ." It added: "We are confident that the vast majority of smallholders in the Ivory Coast are law abiding with a well-developed code of conduct and we are concerned about the potential impact of these allegations on their livelihood." This is now no longer in dispute. It continued: "In addressing the issue of child labour in west Africa, ECA believes it is crucial as a first step to update the current information on the scale of the problem . ECA thus welcomes the study on work practices in cocoa production." [press release]

Indeed, industry has scarcely any control over the vast number of cocoa farmers, all smallholders (600,000 to 1 million cocoa farmers for the Ivory Coast alone). So in August 2002 the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) published its Report on labour practices in West Africa , clearly vindicating the cocoa chain. The Financial Times commented on the results in an article entitled "Report finds no evidence of child slavery on African cocoa farms ." ECA, in a joint statement with CAOBISCO, welcomed the findings and issues raised in the IITA report.

The chocolate and cocoa industries have been working for many years with farmers to assist them on safe growing and harvesting practices, integrated pest management and other farming techniques. Their efforts were coordinated from the summer of 2001 by the Global Industry Group (GIG), of which ECA is a founding member, and through its Members, a major contributor.

The GIG includes the major brands, processors and traders, as well as the respective trade associations from around the world. ECA is a member of the GIG steering committee, representing all its own members and ensuring full participation of the European cocoa chain.

Industry has demonstrated a strong commitment by freely entering into a number of binding agreements.

The industry Protocol was signed on 19 September 2001. Updated in July 2005, it calls for industry to implement by 1 July 2008 credible standards of public certification regarding child labour in cocoa, in compliance with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 182 on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and forced labour.

Industry has been developing the certification process, together with its partners such as the governments of Ghana and Ivory Coast and the ILO (through its WACAP project, which the GIG has also assisted financially). Certification entails the design stage, but also includes monitoring and verification, with proper process concepts and pilot testing programmes set up with our partners.

Industry has secured, through the governments of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, that by mid 2008 the certification process will cover no less than 50 % of the cocoa growing areas and 50 % of the cocoa production in each country. The process in Ivory Coast has not been facilitated by the political unrest prevailing since September 2002.

December 2001 saw the signature of a Joint Statement with the ILO and other major stakeholders. And on 1 May 2002, industry signed a Memorandum of Cooperation together with its partners, formalizing the structure of their on-going working relationship for the years ahead, all meeting deadlines set in the Protocol.

A further industry commitment within the Protocol is the formation in 2002 of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), a Foundation under Swiss law. The ICI is a product of active co-operation between the global chocolate industry, concerned politicians, the labour movement, consumers groups and activists in child and forced labour. Its mission is: “to oversee and sustain efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour and forced labour in the growing and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products”.

The ICI is guided by international conventions, in particular ILO Convention 182 on “The Worst Forms of Child Labour” and ILO Convention 29 on “Forced Labour.” The collaborative nature of the foundation is reflected in the composition of its board which is composed of an equal number of industry and non-industry representatives. Again, ECA, as treasurer, sits on the ICI board and Executive Committee.

ICI Board Composition

ICI operates primarily at local community level, but has also developed broader approaches, often jointly with local authorities and NGOs. Sustainable remediation is also addressed.

Peter Mc Allister, ICI’s Executive Director, began his work in development as a volunteer with a Development bank in Rural Malawi. Peter has spent over 10 years in Africa and a further five in and around Asia on a variety of different development and emergency projects, most recently with CARE International in Ghana.

The ICI has established guiding principles which complement and build upon its stated aim. They serve as a reference for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programme initiatives. They ensure the ICI remains faithful to its mission and relevant within the realities of the prevailing environment.

In summary:

After wide consultation with various stakeholders and careful preparatory work on the ground, the ICI launched its pilot programme on the ground in Ivory Coast & Ghana during the 2004 summer. Working with local partners, it included a limited number of cocoa growing communities, to help determine which activities best support responsible labour practices in the community. Focused action plans were developed using participatory methods and implementation is led by the communities themselves. External support is drawn-on to assist communities in areas such as education, youth opportunities, improved cocoa production and leadership development. In addition ICI is working with others to ensure a positive environment for community actions and the capacity to respond promptly to cases of abuse that are identified.

We are delighted both by the positive welcome ICI initiatives receives from local communities and authorities alike, and by the favourable reaction from the civil society.

For any additional information about the ICI, please contact the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)
28 rue du Village
1214 Vernier
Switzerland
Phone : +41 22 341 47 25
Fax : +41 22 341 47 26
E-mail : admin@cocoainitiative.org
Website: www.cocoainitiative.org