Unfortunately, yes, there are still instances of slavery and child labor in cacao production, particularly in West Africa, which is the largest cacao-producing region in the world.
Children, often as young as 5 or 6 years old, are sometimes forced to work long hours in hazardous conditions on cacao farms, missing out on education and proper care.
Several factors contribute to slavery and child labor in cacao production, including poverty, lack of education, and the complex supply chain of the chocolate industry.
Despite efforts by governments, organizations, and chocolate companies to combat these practices through certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and UTZ, the problem persists due to limited enforcement, corruption, and the economic challenges faced by cacao farmers.
For example, the Dutch company Tony Chocolonely started with the aim to produce slave free chocolate but have not been able to do so, because they opted to work within the existing large scale cacao supply chains and commerce.
The only way to eliminate slavery and child labor in cacao production is to buy direct trade chocolate with a good functioning transparency and traceability system that shows the customers in a reliable way that the chocolate is ethically sound.