An in-depth study on labor exploitation in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry, exploring how poverty and informal labor practices fuel risks of forced labor.
This report investigates indicators of forced labor in cocoa production, drawing on interviews and fieldwork in Côte d’Ivoire. It highlights how rural poverty, lack of access to education, and dependence on middlemen create conditions where coercion and child labor persist. The study details the recruitment and working conditions that entrap workers, including migrants and children, in exploitative systems. It also analyzes structural drivers such as land tenure issues and supply chain opacity, providing evidence-based insights to inform ethical sourcing and sector reforms.
Filed under:
Cocoa
