This Easter, Australians will spend more than $200 million on chocolate.
Meanwhile, most cocoa farmers don’t even make a living income (sufficient income to afford a decent standard of living for all household members – including a nutritious diet, clean water, decent housing, education, health care and other essential needs) and the cocoa industry is rife with slavery and labour exploitation.
WA Australia Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) Co-Ordinator Heather McNaught explains that in partnership with ACRATH WA, several of the independently owned WA IGA supermarkets have committed to raising awareness of modern slavery in the production of chocolate Easter Eggs.
Ms McNaught explains that child labour, forced labour, and unsafe work environments are ongoing issues in the quest for cocoa for chocolate production.
“So much of our chocolate is made from cocoa harvested by children, and most comes from the West African region which grows around 80 per cent of the world’s cocoa,” Ms McNaught said.
In 2020, the final NORC report on child labour estimated around 1.5 million children are working to produce much of the chocolate that we love.
Ms McNaught explains that these children have never even tasted chocolate.
“They are forced to work long hours in dangerous and hazardous conditions,” Ms McNaught said.
“We can change this by choosing to buy chocolate that is produced without the use of child labour. This is not difficult to do – just look for the logo,” she said.
The Stores in WA are committed to complying with relevant modern slavery legislation and upholding human rights across their supply chains.
They oppose any form of modern slavery such as slavery servitude and enforced labour and were supportive of assisting their stores with encouraging consumers to purchase slavery free eggs.
Products in the Easter Eggs ranges that were certified with the Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and Cocoa Life logos were highlighted when IGA retailers were asked to place their orders for 2022.
Nearly 25 per cent of the total orders were placed for these products.
“Customers want to do the right thing but sometimes they don’t know what to look for or how best to support the cause’ said Renee Steenkamp, Preston Street IGA Manager.
“By showing customers what to look for we make it easy for them to make a conscious choice to choose slavery free chocolate,” she said.
In 2015, Pope Francis said that “every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral – and not simply an economic – act.”
When consumers raise their voices, conscientiously choose what chocolate they buy and support stores who offer slavery-free chocolates, they can send a message.
Chocolate companies and producers must do the right thing in sourcing ethically produced cocoa to change the lives of children.
Chocolate is a great start, but consumers can also make changes in their purchases of other items such as coffee, tea, seafood and clothing.
For more information on how you can effect change go to https://acrath.org.au/slavery-free-easter-eggs/
