In Easter is the biggest religious holiday for Christians every year. The period of Easter celebrations in addition to religious obsession, it is also characterized by many customslike that of skewering lamb for the Orthodox.
A custom that is common to all Christians is more “sweet” and that has to do with chocolate eggswhich at least in Greece is “forbidden” godmothers and godparents not to buy in their baptisteries along with the candle and any gifts.
The cocoa market is a special market, as about 70% of world production comes from four African countries: Ivory Coast and Ghana, which hold the lion’s share in this ratio, Nigeria and Cameroon.
It is a commodity that is traded on the stock exchanges, mainly in London and New York and an essential ingredient in confectionery and more.
However There is a secret behind the huge confectionery industry which can in addition to the guilt of eating sweets (because they have calories and is not the best for the diet), create other guilt.
This is because for farmers in these countries, The cultivation of cocoa plants is not profitable and their revenues are in no way in line with the many billions circulating in the confectionery industry.
Farmers do not have large incomes, as their product is bought very cheaply before it is traded through futures contracts on the stock exchanges, resort to child labor.
Young children in turn take refuge to harvest cocoa beans for a meager feein order to contribute to the family income.
It is estimated that 1.5 million minors in Cλεte d’Ivoire and Ghana work on cocoa plantations and face poverty, exclusion and lack of access to health care and clean water.
«The poverty that surrounds these children means that many start working at an early age to support their families. Some children are sold to farmers, ignoring the dangerous working conditions“, States in a report the Barclays research team.
«This is despite decades of work on the subject, on a subject whose progress is slow. We believe that more action is needed“, It is emphasized.
Large companies like Nestle and Cadbury have taken initiatives to combat child labor, however the problems remain.
«The harsh reality is that small farmers are often unable to afford the wage costs for professionals and legal staff, so they resort to child labor.“, The report concludes
Money Review
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