Hush and Nestle Sued for Alleged Child Labor Exploitation

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] Chocolate companies such as Nestl? and Hershey have been sued in the United States for allegedly turning a blind eye to child labor exploitation on cocoa farms in Africa.

On the 12th (local time), according to foreign media including Bloomberg News, the human rights organization International Rights Advocates (IRA) filed a class-action lawsuit against Nestl?, Hershey, Cargill, and Mondel?z on charges of child labor exploitation. Representing eight plaintiffs from Mali in West Africa who claim to have been trafficked to cocoa farms in C?te d'Ivoire and subjected to labor exploitation, the complaint was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The plaintiffs allege that Nestl? and Hershey were aware of thousands of children forced to work on farms in C?te d'Ivoire but turned a blind eye. The companies sued have only stated a general position opposing child labor exploitation.