Big Chocolate said... nothing new

What were we asking?
Tell the CMA what you think.

Early in 2008 World Vision asked Australian chocolate manufacturers, through its industry body the Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia (CMA), to produce a detailed, time-bound and fully costed plan of action by December 1st for combating the worst forms of child labour in West Africa.

Some 20,000 Australians have supported this call through the Don’t Trade Lives campaign. Your letters, phone calls, events and petitions to the CMA have been heard loud and clear by the Australian chocolate industry.

Willy Wonker (aka Chris Varney of VGen) met with Trish Hyde, CEO of the CMA, to present thousands of chocolate postcards from around the country.

For example, we know that some major chocolate companies have sent their staff internal memos which did not accurately represent World Vision’s activities and calls. Industry representatives have appeared at Don’t Trade Lives events from Adelaide to Sydney, and Cairns to Melbourne.

On 1 December, the CMA issued only an open letter. Although the letter read “YES” and stated that industry are “committed” to eradicating labour exploitation in cocoa harvesting, the letter fell well short of the recommendations and challenge that World Vision put to industry.

What were we asking?

Don’t Trade Lives called for Big Chocolate to Say:

“YES” to publicly outlining a detailed Plan of Action

INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE: Despite industry’s statement that an Action Plan exists, no such time-bound and costed plan has been made publicly available. Are consumers really meant to take their word for it?
“YES” to addressing the five pillars imperative to ending the problem of exploitative labour in cocoa farming, providing reportable milestones on each of these: fair pricing for the farmer, community well-being, improved community services; sustainable cocoa production, informed consumers.

INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE: It is the case that the International Cocoa Initiative and some manufacturers are undertaking some programs which address some of these issues. Most of industry’s efforts, however, are about increasing crop yields and their own profits and are not designed to address fair pricing for the farmer which is the root cause of labour exploitation.
“YES” to underscoring the Plan of Action with adequate funding: $14 million per year for the next 10 years or 1 percent of Australian industry revenue

INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE: Globally, industry has spent just $38 million to addressing this issue. For an industry worth over $71 billion, this amount is just chocolate-coated peanuts!
“YES” to developing the Action Plan as part of a global industry effort compiled in consultation with key stakeholders.

INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE: In recent years, the chocolate industry have engaged with a wide-range of stakeholders, however, we’ve yet to see one integrated plan of action to eradicate labour exploitation from cocoa harvesting within the next 10 years. It remains the case that today Australians have no more assurance than they did in 2001 that the chocolate we consume is free of child labour.

Read CEO Tim Costello’s comments on the World Vision press release available here.

The CMA’s Open Letter is available here (PDF: 171 KB).

See our original statement here.

Tell the CMA what you think

Tell the chocolate industry what think you of its Open Letter. Give the CMA a call today on 1800 331 640.

Read how you can keep the pressure on chocolate manufacturers at our Take Action page.