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Bringing smiles to the children in cocoa-producing areas Bringing smiles to the children in cocoa-producing areas
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HOME  >  Efforts to Eliminate Child Labor

  • To increase children attending
    school with smiles.

  • In some cocoa producing areas, children are forced to work long hours without being able to go to school and are exposed to physical dangers.
    By depriving them of educational opportunities, they even limit their chances of finding well-paying jobs in the future.
    To nurture a healthy future for children living in cocoa producing areas.
    Meiji is working with local partners and communities to eliminate child labor.

    Target Introduce Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) or an equivalent system to all suppliers in order to aim for zero child labor. STEP 1: Republic of Ghana by FYE March 2027 STEP 2: Other suppliers by FYE March 2031
Target Introduce Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) or an equivalent system to all suppliers in order to aim for zero child labor. STEP 1: Republic of Ghana by FYE March 2027 STEP 2: Other suppliers by FYE March 2031

Introduced the "Child Labor Monitoring
and Remediation Systems",
a system for monitoring child labor

In Ghana, where child labor is a social issue, we are working with local partners to provide support through the Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS*).
The surveyors visit each farmer or farms to verify family structure, raise awareness of child labor, identify child labor, and provide ongoing remediation and follow-up to eliminate child labor.

* CLMRS is a Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems developed by the International Cocoa Initiative, a non-profit organization that aims to eliminate child and forced labor in cocoa-producing areas. It identifies, monitors, remediates, and prevents cases of child labor.

Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems
Rate of CLMRS introduced (Calculated from the amount of cocoa beans procured by the farmers who have introduced the system). All Suppliers 59.4%, Republic of Ghana 98.7%. Covered by CLMRS in Republic of Ghana (# of farmers) 7,871, Child labor cases identified (# of cases) 1,175, There of remediated (# of childen) 1,175. Rate of CLMRS introduced (Calculated from the amount of cocoa beans procured by the farmers who have introduced the system). All Suppliers 59.4%, Republic of Ghana 98.7%. Covered by CLMRS in Republic of Ghana (# of farmers) 7,871, Child labor cases identified (# of cases) 1,175, There of remediated (# of childen) 1,175.
(From October 2023 to September 2024)

Joining the International
Cocoa Initiative (ICI)

The NPO “International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)” was established in 2002 by international chocolate manufacturers and various international organizations with the aim of eliminateing child labor and forced labor in cocoa cultivation in West Africa.

In Ivory Coast and Ghana, the first and second largest cocoa producing countries, it is estimated that there are 1.56 million child laborers under the age of 181.
Between 2015 and 2020, communities supported by ICI saw a 20% reduction in child labor and a 50% reduction in hazardous child labor among children at risk identified by the monitoring system2.
Meiji is the first Japanese company to join in October 2021 and is contributing to this activity.

  • 1 NORC Report (University of Chicago, 2020).
  • 2 ICI Annual Report 2020
International Cocoa Initiative

In cooperation with the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA),
we will further promote actions
to eliminate child labour
in cocoa-producing areas

In January 2020, JICA has established the "Platform for Sustainable Cocoa in Developing Countries," and Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. joined this platform in September 2022, with the aim of solving social issues facing the cocoa industry, such as poverty among farmers, deforestation, and child labour. Within the platform, on September 30, 2022, "Action plan to eliminate child labour in the Cocoa Industry" has announced which outlines concrete actions expected from each standpoint with the aim of eliminating child labour. By joining this platform and supporting this action, and in collaboration with Japanese industry associations, food manufacturers, trading companies, consulting companies, NGOs, etc., Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. will accelerate and expand its efforts to eliminate child labour in the cocoa industry.

JICA press release