Stakeholders in agriculture and cocoa business industry in Oyo state have jointly lend their voices in calling for an end to forced labour in cocoa industry and respect for human right law.
During a stakeholders meeting today ,the founder African Law Foundation Mr. OKEREKE CHINWIKE who embarked on an investigation in cocoa producing states which include Cross-River, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Oyo state says there were instances of forced labour which include abuse of vulnerability, deception, restriction of workers movement, isolation in work sites, physical and sexual violence , while out of school children between 10 to 17 years of age seen on the cocoa field which negates International Labour Law (ILO.
The legal expert however called on stakeholders in the cocoa industry to set up necessary structures and ensure effective implementation of the national action plan on business and human right, National Policy on Child Labour (NPCL) and National Action Plan NAP on the elimination of the scourge of forced and child labour in the industry in Nigeria.
Participants at the conference recommended more government support and grants for all farmers in order to make them reduce looking for cheap labour in their farm productions .
Participants at the stakeholder campaign include representatives from Cocoa farmers association of Nigeria (CFAN), Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Federal ministry of Agriculture, federal ministry of labour and employment, national human right commission, federal ministry of health, and other Civil Society Groups.
