The folks over at the International Labor Rights Fund have made the six part documentary available on their website. Check it out.
Some Background on the Ivorian Crisis
When Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved that country’s government and electoral commission on February 12, he created the latest roadblock in the long and difficult road to elections. The outcome was predictable. The elections, already postponed six times to March 2010, now are even father off. Even more disturbing was the dissolution of the Electoral Commission, the very entity charged with organizing the elections.
A Child Labor Update
In late September, the Payson Center at Tulane University released its third annual oversight report on efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor (WFCL) in the cocoa sectors of Ghana and the Côte d’Ivoire. Overall, the report takes a positive point of view. But hidden in various parts of the report remain serious questions as to the efficacy of the chocolate industry’s engagement with the Harkin Engel Protocol process. Continue reading “A Child Labor Update”
More Bonuses for Ghanaian Cocoa Farmers
COCOBOD, the Ghanaian cocoa board, has announced another round of bonuses for cocoa farmers. This time, the total bonus amounts to GH¢25,369,862.50 ($17,887,263). That translates to $1.76 per bag of cocoa. As usual, the monies will be distributed to the 26 licensed buying companies which will then distribute funds to the farmers on the basis of their past deliveries. Also as usual, the COCOBOD advised the LBCs not to pocket the money.
Indonesia Contemplates Export Tax on Cocoa
It’s the age old story that pits local processors against exporters. The Indonesian Cocoa Processing Association can’t get enough cocoa to keeps its members busy. Global demand (and global prices) are diverting local cocoa away from the processors. So they want 5 percent export tax on cocoa to provide an incentive for cocoa producers to sell their beans locally.
Continue reading “Indonesia Contemplates Export Tax on Cocoa”
