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The Rotten Truth




Hey Carrot Cake Friends!


How much thought have you given to where your household goods come from? For many people, the answer is not much. However, recent journalism and research has begun to lift the veil on the businesses profiting off modern-day slavery and child labour. This may surprise you, but the sad truth is that slavery hasn’t ended; it’s just out of sight, out of mind.




Bad Bananas with a Cup of Coffee & Corruption



An example of this is that countries such as Belize, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and the Philippines are known for using child exploitation in the collection of bananas according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Similarly, the list of countries using slavery to support the coffee industry are extensive, amounting to 17. Here are some examples of the conditions these people live under as quoted by the U.S. Department of Labor:



Coffee Trade: Brazil

“There are reports that adults are forced to work in the production of coffee in Brazil. According to media reports and NGOs, cases of forced labor within the coffee sector are a recurring problem. A large number of these violations occur in the state of Minas Gerais, which is responsible for about 70 percent of the coffee produced in the country. There are more than 100,000 coffee plantations in Minas Gerais, with an estimated 245,000 workers, most working informally, thus increasing the probability of their exploitation. Sources indicate that forced labor in coffee is widespread in this state. Intermediaries, called gatos, recruit workers from poorer neighboring states, and often lie about working conditions, wages, hours, and the quality of living conditions. According to investigations, workers face up to 15-hour workdays, and often receive sub-minimum wage payments. Reports also indicate that a number of workers face precarious and unsanitary housing accommodations with no access to potable water, and a lack of proper bathroom and cooking facilities. Some workers report finding themselves in a debt spiral because they owe money to the plantation owners for food, their journey to the plantation, and even the equipment they must use during the harvest. These debts incurred hinder the workers’ ability to leave the coffee plantations. A number of workers also report fear of punishment for complaining about the poor conditions, or for speaking to outside sources about their work and living conditions. Some workers have had their working papers or identity papers confiscated by their employer.”


Coffee Trade: Côte d'Ivoire

“There are reports that children ages 14-17 and younger in Côte d'Ivoire are forced to work on coffee plantations. Based on a research study, thousands of children are involved in this type of labor. Some children are forcibly recruited, or recruited through deceptive means, and transported to coffee plantations in Côte d'Ivoire from nearby countries including Benin, Mali, Togo, and Burkina Faso. These children are sold to traffickers. Other children leave their home countries or communities voluntarily, but end up in situations where they are not paid and have no means to return home. Some children are forced to work for three or four years before receiving payment or returning home. Others are forced to work, even if sick, and prevented from leaving the plantations through threat of physical violence, withheld payments, or denial of food.”




More research has been done to lift the veil on modern-day slavery; two resources we have found to be insightful are short documentaries done by CBC Marketplace this year. We felt it important to include them:






So Where Does That Leave Us?


As a consumer, you have a voice! If you want to know how to show your support and enact change, here are some things you can do:


  • Vote with your dollar

  • Do your research on where your purchases are coming from

  • Inform other people about the importance of buying fair trade


Together, we can help change the world we live in. The choices you make could help ensure that those who manufacture your goods are making a decent wage and being treated well. You hold the power to make a difference. We want to thank you for taking the time to read this article. If you have been inspired and would like to share it, please do! If you would like to reach out to us, we would be happy to hear from you! You can contact us by email at contact.carrotcakecompany@gmail.com

 
 
 

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