Author: Althea, Content writer
Headline Diplomat eMagazine, LUDCI.eu
According to Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reports, the International Rights Advocates (IRA), a human rights group, has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Nestle, Cargill, Hershey & Mars, on behalf of eight Malian citizens, exploited for cocoa harvesting.
According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), child trafficking occurs when children are tricked, persuaded, or forced to leave their homes and get exploited, forced to work, or sold.
This gruesome activity is often thought to be perpetrated only by scheming individuals who exploit by grooming children, building trust with their community, or promising a better future. However, history has shown that registered corporations contribute to this misfortune globally.
Additionally, others have recognized their potential contribution to child trafficking and have implemented preventive measures. Fortunately, this article sheds more light on corporations’ perpetrating and preventative actions in child trafficking.
Negative Contributions of Global Corporations to Child Trafficking
In recent years, Big corporations have contributed to child trafficking, leading to legal repercussions. Such cases are enumerated below.
Cocoa Harvesting in Cote D’Ivoire (Mars, Nestlé, Hershey, etc.)
Multiple legal organizations employ services based on child trafficking with popular brands like Nestle, Cargill, Hershey & Mars are known for this form of exploitation.
According to Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reports, the International Rights Advocates (IRA), a human rights group, has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Nestle, Cargill, Hershey & Mars, among others on behalf of eight Malian citizens, exploited for cocoa harvesting.
The plaintiffs were trafficked as children and compelled to harvest cocoa for chocolate production in Ivory Coast, one of the world’s biggest producers and exporters. The case is based on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which allows victims to sue companies that benefit from forced labor and trafficking.
Tobacco Harvesting in Malawi (Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, Imperial, etc.)
According to the World Bank, Tobacco accounts for 60% of Malawi’s exports, 13% of its GDP, and 23% of its total tax base. Unfortunately, the United States suspended tobacco imports from Malawi upon child labor allegations.
These allegations compelled Malawi president, Lazarus Chakwera, to amend the Employment Act in 2021, abolishing the tenancy system. The government also ran the
National Social Cash Transfer Program to support low-income families to end child labor.
Still, these efforts are insufficient as traffickers still exploit children to harvest tobacco in Malawi. In fact, U.N. reports show that 3,000 children, alongside 7,000 adults, are abused in this sector.
While there’s no concrete confirmation of which companies benefited from the Child laborers, the U.N has discussed with major Malawian tobacco companies currently accused of benefiting. These brands include Imperial, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco Group, and Philip Morris International.
However, Imperial Brands PLC tobacco company, Simon Evans, echoed the company’s disdain for exploitative practices and aimed to prevent such errors via multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Cobalt Mining in Congo (Apple, Google, Tesla, etc.)
Most smartphones, tablets, e-scooters, electric vehicles, laptops, and other advanced gadgets are made by laborers in Congo’s Cobalt mines. According to Beroe Advantage Procurement, the location has hundreds of people, especially children ages 6 – 17, washing and cleaning Cobalt ore.
However, a monumental legal case was launched against some of the world’s largest corporations that benefit from this exploitative child labor in Congo. The suit featured defendants like Dell, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Tesla and was filed in Washington DC by the human rights group International Rights Advocates (IRA).
The suit was based on the field research conducted by anti-slavery economist Siddharth Kara. Siddhartha accused these brands of assisting in the death and injury of children working in the Cobalt mines under their supply chain.
This lawsuit is the first time big tech companies have faced legal challenges over child trafficking. Unfortunately, in November 2021, a federal judge dismissed the suit, ruling that no causal relationship existed between the companies and injured individuals.
Corporations’ Implementation to Combat Child Trafficking
Corporations can unknowingly encourage child trafficking activities by sourcing products from suppliers, partners, and subcontractors who obtained the offering via trafficked individuals. Fortunately, several companies understand this issue and have begun applying measures to eliminate forced labor from their supply chain.
Such methods include:
Working with suppliers
Companies often require partnered businesses to regularly certify compliance with their requirements on identifying and eradicating child trafficking from their operations. These certifications are integrated into company contracts, compelling partners to provide access to their employees.
Such access allow workers to complain about working conditions and other factors, eliminating the fear of retaliation from suppliers. For instance, Amazon.com closely monitors its supply chain in search of trafficking behavior, which is also evident in its Amazon Modern Slavery Statement.
Training employees and leadership
Employees and leadership responsible for managing the supply chain receive training on child labor and human trafficking. These sessions revolve around identifying and mitigating risks within the supply chain.
Companies emphasize the importance of reporting such issues to management and law enforcement upon identification. This training is often presented by attorneys and non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting child trafficking.
Raising community awareness
Several companies have launched and participated in global and local campaigns against child trafficking in the communities in which they operate. Other corporations have worked with international organizations, non-profits, and trade associations to establish an industry-wide force raising awareness against human trafficking.
Conclusion
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 21 million people are trapped in forced labor or slavery, and 5.5 million are children below 18. While malicious perpetrators are involved, corporations can unknowingly contribute to this gruesome labor, ruining their brand image and damaging lives.
We urge companies to reassess their supply chain, train employees and monitor business partners to prevent, identify, or report child trafficking to law enforcement. It’s an effective way to end cruelty to children.
Featured photo: Sora Shimazaki, Pexels
