CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The problem of child labour as a source of cheap labour has existed over centuries both in the developed countries and developing countries until the beginning of 20th century (Cunning & Viazzo, 1996). Child labour is an issue of both developing and developed in the latter, it existed in the 18th and 19th century. In Great Britain incidences of cheap child labourers were first spotted in factories working under exploitative conditions (UNICEF, 2005). Whereas in the US during the pre-industrial period, children were engaged in productive labour such as domestic work, agricultural work under the supervision of the parents and the income was meant for family use consequently child labour was not considered a social problem (Pallas,1993). Though child labour within the developed countries is said to have been eliminated by mid-20^th century, some scholars argue that the problem is still inexistence (Lavallette M, 2000)

Globally, 152 million children aged 5 to 17 are involved in child labour. About half of them (72.5 million) perform hazardous work that place their health, safety or moral development at risk (UNICEF, 2005). Which further explained that, one in every five children in Africa is involved in child labour making it the continent where the risk of child labour is registered the highest, half of these affected children live in lower, middle and upper middle-income countries. According to Lavallette (2000), The problem is more prevalent in countries experiencing conflict and disaster. Some children in child labour work 43 hours weekly. Estimates for boys involved in child labour are higher than those for girls but those estimates do not include household chores. 70% of children in child labour work in agriculture mainly in subsistence and commercial farming and herding livestock. One-third of children in child labour are completely outside the educational systems and those that do attend perform poorly.

The agricultural sector in most African countries is characterised by high level of children’s involvement in various aspects of the agricultural value chain. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), about 71% of child labour activities are found in the agricultural sector comprising both subsistence and commercial farming (ILO, 2017). The remainder are in the services (17%) and the industrial sectors (12%). According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), child labour in the agricultural sector has been shown to have deleterious effects on children as well as the future of the agricultural systems, it perpetuates rural poverty (FAO, 2018).

Estimates from the ILO suggest that although most African government have taken strong actions to combat child labour, between 2012 and 2016, the prevalence of child labour increased within the continent. Similarly, disaggregated data indicate that child labour in agriculture increased from 59% in 2012 to about 71% in 2016 compared to an increase from 7% to 12% recorded in the agricultural sector despite the numerous programmes and strategies that children in cocoa-growing areas face the realities of rural poverty. The regular practice of children working on cocoa farms is often a natural way of life for cocoa farmers who for a variety of reasons, want to train their children and at the same time use them in order to reduce labour cost on the family’s farm (ILO, 2004).

The table below represents the global statistics.

Source: ILO, (2004)

According to Ray and Lancaster (2003), understanding child labour as both a symptom and a self-perpetuating cause of poverty. Households in cocoa growing areas face the realities of rural poverty and parents may put their children to work and keep them out of school to reduce labour cost on the family farms. But this can in turn deprive their children of the chance to develop and advance themselves, and so entrenches the household’s impoverishment for subsequent generations. Past observation indicates that children who work on cocoa farms do so within their family structure (Heady, 2003). However, this does not mean they are not exposed to hazards and beyond these situations, illegal and exploitative practices do also exist. Specifically, when children even with their consent are taken from their families, this constitutes human trafficking. Heady believed that these complex problems can be effectively handled through the collective, coordinated and consistent efforts of all parties involved directly or indirectly in the cocoa supply chain.

Any work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children: work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, work that interest with children’s education by limiting their school attendance forcing them to leave school prematurely or obliging them to combine schooling with excessive and arduous work tasks is categorised under child labour (Ray & Lancaster, 2003). On the other hand the ICI upholds the international convention that promote children’s rights and that outlaw these labour supporting national laws. Not all work done by children is classified as child labour. Typically carrying out of light, non-hazardous tasks on the family farm for a short period of time with the supervision of elders and without compromising their schooling is considered as acceptable child work. This type of work is often necessary for the welfare of many families in West African rural societies. It also contributes to children’s development providing them with skills and experience that help them prepare for their adult farming life (kruger,2007).

By contrast, activities such as carrying heavy loads or using chemicals are considered as “unacceptable forms of child labour” because they are physically dangerous for children. Another form of extreme and criminal forms of child exploitation is child trafficking and other works undertaken by children in bonded labour (Khan, 2007). In September 2001, by ratifying the Hakin-Engel protocol the cocoa industry committed to reduce the most hazardous forms of child labour by 70% by 2020, yet Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer is still struggling with child labour on its cocoa farms. Indeed, the number of children under the age of 18 working on cocoa farms (certified or not) it actually increased between 2013 and 2019 to reach an estimated number of 790,000. It is believed that 97% of them are engaged in some hazardous work, including clearing land, harvesting cocoa with machete or applying agro chemicals on cocoa farms (kruger,2007).

It should be noted that not all work performed by children is child labour. Child labour is defined by international standards as work that is hazardous, demands too many hours or is performed by children who are too young (ISO, 2012). Children work because their survivals depend on it, and adults take advantage of their vulnerability and national education systems are weak. Child labour is sometimes the result of ingrained customs and traditions. Ivory coast and Ghana together produce nearly 60% of the world’s cocoa each year but latest estimates found that 1.56 million children engaged in hazardous work on cocoa farms in these two countries; the US department of labour’s bureau of international labour affairs is working with government, civil society and the industry partners to eliminate child labour in Ivory coast and Ghana (Cavalieri, 2000).

In 2017, Cameroon made a moderate advancement in effort to eliminate the worst form of child labour. The government increased the number of labour inspectors by almost one third convened a 3-day interim assessment of the decent work country program and earmarked $18,000 for the ministry of labour and social security to revise the hazardous work list in 2018 (Horrizon, 2018). The government also provided education to 93.190 children ages 3 to 17 living in internally displaced persons and refugee camps and nearly doubled the total number of project participation in social safety. Mets programs to 411.048 individuals. However, children in Cameroon engage in the worst form child labour in commercial, sexual exploitation and perform dangerous tasks in cocoa production. The government has not acceded to the UN CKC optional protocol on the sale of children in illegal activities, including the production and trafficking of drugs. In Cameroon, out of a study of 5,999,053 children between the age 5years to 17years, 2441,181 are economically occupied making 41% and 1673,184 children are in child labour making 69.75% and 266,594 children are in dangerous activities making 11%.

Statistics of child labour in Cameroon

    Source: UNICEF, (2009)

In 2019, the international cocoa initiative began working with its partner Cargill & Telcar Cocoa in Cameroon to support cocoa farmers to address child labour through the child labour monitoring and remediation system (CCMRS). Cameroon being one of the world’s largest cocoa producing countries. The crop is a vital source of income for thousands of farmers, their families and communities. As in other cocoa producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, poverty and lack of social infrastructure in cocoa growing communities are common places raising the risk of child labour. Recognising the need for action to protect children and create sustainable supply chains, ICI and Cargill began working in Cameroon in September 2019 (Telcar report, 2016). Together, these two bodies set up the system of CLMRS. CLMRS were developed 20years ago by the international labour organisation (ILO) and later adapted for use in the cocoa sector. Such systems are estimated to cover approximately 25% of the cocoa supply chain in Cameroon and the expansion is set to continue, the ICI reports.

Along with the ICI, other industry and multi-stakeholder bodies, industry, world cocoa foundation (WCF) and several national platforms for sustainable cocoa in Europe, have all pledge to scale up their coverage. In tandem, civil society groups have called for the expansion of these systems while underlining the need for clear standard definitions and benchmarks (Horrizon, 2018).

CLMRS is an evolving area of child labour work relined which is closely linked to enforcement of national child labour legislation. A wide range of child labour monitoring initiatives have been designed, implemented and tested as part of over ten years of ILO, IPEC’s global work against child labour. CLMRS first started in early 1990’s in the manufacturing sector through IPEC projects in Bangladesh and Pakistan from which it expanded into other economic sectors such as fishing in Indonesia and Philippines and agriculture (in central America and western Africa) The CLMRS aimed at identifying and remediate cases of child labour. It’s based on the presence of facilitate with in cocoa- growing communities who are awareness of the existence of child labour, identify cases and request remediation actions that are implemented by ICI together with the chocolate cocoa company supplier. Data is being collected through smart phones and gathered on a database from which systematic analysis can be conducted and remediation strategies.

CLMRS are a means of targeting prevention, mitigation and remediation support to children involved in or at risk of child labour, as well as to their families and communities. The analysis uses data from household monitoring visits to explore the ability to identify child labourers after they have received support to assess the effectiveness at reducing exposure to hazardous tasks and improving school participation. ICI supported Cargill to set up the CLMRS across 17cocoa cooperatives covering 146 communities within the Telcar joint ventures with supply chain in Cameroon. Once fully operational, the system identifies and track children in child labour, in addition to providing remediation activities suited to the local context and tailored to the specific needs of the children identified. These activities can include targeted awareness raising the development of educational of educational infrastructure, families and more. This follows on from Cargill ongoing world in West Africa that has seen over 58,000 farmers in its supply chain reached by the CLMRS (Telcar Report, 2017).

The initial step in the project saw 71field coaches trained on children protection and the CLMRS methods in Cameroon in the Centre Region coaches receive training on a wide range of topics to help them carry out their work including the definition of light work and child labour and details of child protection. Child safeguarding and awareness raising in addition to information on data collection processes and personal data collection. So far, these agents have visited around 5,000 farming households interviewing families and their children conducting awareness raising sessions on hazardous child labour and monitoring for any cases. These visits allow Telcar together with Cargill and ICI’s support to identify and develop remediation targeted at the community, household or individual level. Ongoing monitoring then enables the impact on child labour to be tracked and further remediation provided as necessary.

Expanding the work in Cameroon is an exciting and new experience, allowing the utilisation of new experience and expertise to benefit more children in cocoa- growing communities awareness raising materials to the local context and legal environment and the adaptation of CLMRS data collection tools which continue to improve them based on our experience so far and through the next steps that will be implemented over the coming months. Explained Lange ICI’s Director of policy and programs “All of this essential before upscaling the system in Cargill’s supply chain in Cameroon if we’re to have an issue as complex as child labour simply do not work” By embedding the CLMRS structure in Telcar Cocoa supply chain in Cameroon, we are supporting the communities we work with to tackle child labour while putting in place measures that benefit farmers, their families and children” said Taco Terhejden, Cargill’s Director of cocoa and chocolate sustainability through the CLMRS, and with ICI’s support, we will be able to pinpoint those households and children that are in need and identify what sort of intention is needed.

Telcar Cocoa’s pilot child labour monitoring and remediation system has already reached 4,000 farmers in Cameroon. This was revealed by the agricultural product producers in a press release issued on May 12. This network of farmers should be extended by the end of 2025. According to the firm which is represented in Cameroon by Telcar cocoa. The aim is to extend the scope of its child labour monitoring and remediation mechanism in Cameroon. By working directly with coaches and farmer’s cooperatives, the pilot programme was designed using a risk-based approach such as the presence of a local school or the number of children in the household explained Mathias Lange, Director of policy and programmes of the international cocoa initiative (ICI). This approach will enable us to identify the communities most at risk

1.2 Statement of the problem

One of the major problem associated with children involvement in cocoa productivity is that it leads to low quality of the product produced due to the fact that these children are not trained specialists in the production of cocoa, this goes a long way to affect the general tonnage of cocoa bought by Telcar Cocoa Ltd and hence affects productivity of the company. Telcar Cocoa Ltd is dedicated in allocating resources to the remediation phase of the CLMRS project to cocoa producers which will enable them to avoid using children in cocoa production. These developmental funds to these households are made available at the remediation phase of the CLMRS project and it also helps to stop or limit the number of children being hired below the minimum age.

The reality on the field is that the existence of hazardous works carried out by children in the cocoa production chain has devastating consequences on the quantity of cocoa produce or the tonnage of cocoa produce by Telcar Cocoa because the cocoa is not produced by specialised trained farmers as such the tonnage falls and other consequences such as social life problems and health of the children. If the production is carried out by trained specialists then the tonnage will increase. CLMRS project carried out by Telcar Cocoa is to remove children from hazardous works in the cocoa production chain and increase the tonnage of cocoa produce by Telcar Cocoa Ltd. This sensitisation is done at the level of the community base approach of the CLMRS project.

Employment of trained specialist in the production of cocoa lead to high cost of production which in turn affects the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd. This explains why cocoa producers use child labour in the production process which goes a long way to restrict children from their fundamental rights and threatening their future. The major objective is to build and extend social protection system through the training and awareness raising phase of the CLMRS project which involves carrying out work place or household assessment.

The application of national laws regarding child labour has not been easily put into practice as realities on the ground still shows that most cocoa growing communities are not even aware of the existence of such laws. This has gone a long way to affect cocoa productivity of Telcar Cocoa as the quality of the tonnage of Cocoa produce.

The quantity of tonnage produce by Telcar Cocoa also depends on the follow up and measurement phase of the CLMRS project, this is so because the quantity of cocoa produced by Telcar Cocoa depends solely on the level of specialist trained people as such the follow up and measurement phase ensures that only trained personnel are engaged in the cocoa production.

1.3   Research Questions

The research question is divided into the main and specific questions. The main research question is: what is the influence of Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System have on the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd?

Specific Questions include;

• What effects does the school-based system of CLMRS have on the organisational productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd?
• How have the community-based approach of the CLMRS project affected the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd?
• How have the industry-based approach of CLMS affected the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd?
• What influence does the workplace-based system have on the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd?

1.4Objectives of the study

The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of child labour monitoring on the productivity of telcar cocoa ltd cameroon.

Specific Objectives include;

• To determine the effects of school-based system of CLMRS on the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd.
• To determine the effect of the community-based approach of the CLMRS on the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd.
• To examine the influence of the industry-based system of CLMRS on the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd.
• To examine the effect of workplace-based system of CLMRS on the productivity of Telcar Cocoa Ltd.