No certification program can offer a 100% guarantee that these labor rights abuses do not occur in certified facilities.  A critical component of a strong certification program is that a reliable system is in place to identify violations when they occur and that there is an appropriate process to remediate violations.  (For more information, please see ILRF's "Roadmap for Ethical Product Certification and Standard Setting Initiatives.")

Kuapa Kokoo and Kavokiva, Fair Trade Certified cocoa cooperatives in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire respectively, have taken the elimination of child labor and other labor rights abuses seriously for many years.  Both cooperatives have internal policies and practices related to child labor in addition to those required under Fairtrade Labelling Organization standards.  These cooperatives have been leaders in their sector in instituting supply chain transparency and empowering smallholder farmers.  In order for these cooperatives to better ensure that all workers are protected from abuses and that farmers improve their livelihoods, they would benefit from additional international support for their efforts, and for their honesty in revealing their failings.

All certification programs in the cocoa sector have room for improvement in eliminating the worst forms of child labor, but it is important to give credit to programs that are working to identify these abuses and developing solutions to remove children from hazardous conditions and help farmers to comply with labor rights protections and improve their livelihoods.