Why are Child Workers used in the chocolate industry?
Child workers are used in the chocolate industry to keep the farmer's prices competitive. They need a way to keep profits up. When the economy turned bad, plantation owners started to look for cheaper labour forces in order to keep profits at maximum, they turned to slave labour. Farmers do NOT pay the child workers and keep the children in the worst conditions, which is why the children are commonly referred to as child slaves. This means that the farmer can sell the cocoa more cheaply, so more people will buy it off them.
As well as this, boys are used because they are more easily controlled than adult men. They undeniably do as told or will receive the consequences (of which include getting beaten) by the farmer.
Children from ages 10-16 are less prone to body pains or injuries so the make good, strong, hard workers.
Children can be bought cheaply from their family and even abducted from small villages in countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali, and then they cannot escape from the cocoa farms.
As well as this, boys are used because they are more easily controlled than adult men. They undeniably do as told or will receive the consequences (of which include getting beaten) by the farmer.
Children from ages 10-16 are less prone to body pains or injuries so the make good, strong, hard workers.
Children can be bought cheaply from their family and even abducted from small villages in countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali, and then they cannot escape from the cocoa farms.