Through its partnership with the International Cocoa Initiative, Nestlé is making progress tackling child labour. Today, its second Tackling Child Labour report is launched and charts the success so far, as well as the challenges that remain.
In 2009, Nestlé launched its Cocoa Plan, and tackling child labour in its supply chain was a key objective. A central part of Nestlé’s strategy is the Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS), which began in 2012 in partnership with ICI. The system now covers 73,248 households in the company’s supply chain.
Key findings from the report include:
- 44,665 children supported in their education in Côte d’Ivoire through Nestlé’s Cocoa Plan.
- 18,000 children were found to be in child labour.
- 198,000 tonnes of sustainable cocoa sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in 2018.
Challenges identified include increasing awareness and understanding of child labour laws amongst farmers, supporting older children involved in child labour, and the frequency of change within farming cooperatives and households. Going forward, Nestlé plans to continue to expand the CLMRS across its Cocoa Plan supply chain in West Africa, with the ongoing support of ICI.
Access the Tackling Child Labor report here.
Read a blog post from Darrell High, Nestlé's Cocoa Plan Manager here.
Learn about the Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System here.