Question

Should chocolate makers like Cadbury and Nestle be held accountable for the actions of their suppliers? Is it their responsibility to ensure that their suppliers produce cocoa without using child labor of child slave labor?

Answer 1

The nations like Ghana, Ivory Coast are the largest producers of the Cocoa seeds that is been used for the products that Cadbury and Nestle use for its chocolate products. The manufacturing brand or the brand that is getting the supplies from those nations is responsible for the human rights of the people alongside the supervision of the people’s wages, working conditions, health, and wellbeing as per the national laws and international ethics. The parent company like Nestle or Cadbury has to make sure that the suppliers are adhering to the norms of ethical behavior across all parts of its business line as it is their duty and responsibility under the international laws.

The responsibility of the brands is to make sure that no one is been used who is below the age of 18 or are minors for the job in the supplier chain. This is for the best of business goodwill and repute for the market that it caters to. The stakeholder’s assessment of the business and its responsibility towards all aspects of supplies and distribution are important in these days of information and ethical business practices. Hence, the use of child-labor or gender inequality at the supplier’s line has to be checked and stopped for the use of business in any form or way to be sustainable and have the repute of being a company with ethics in all its activities.