The Hidden Cost of Child Labor in Global Supply Chains (Agriculture)

Behind much of the agricultural products and raw materials we consume lies the human cost we hardly discuss: the exploitation of children. In fact, roughly 60% of all child labourers (over 98 million kids) are found in agriculture worldwide. Agriculture also has the most hazardous child work, about 59% of all children in dangerous jobs are in farming, fishing or forestry. Their sweat sustains global supply chains while stealing their childhoods, health, and education.

There are a lot of affected commodities, some of the world’s favourite products hide a human cost: Cocoa (chocolate) for instance has an estimated 2.1 million children in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire working on cocoa farms. Many do dangerous tasks, often for no pay. Cocoa farmers make only a small fraction of a chocolate bar’s price, so families struggle to survive. Families often depend on these wages simply to survive, yet children suffer injuries, chronic fatigue, and limited school attendance. Such exploitation is not a relic of the past, it continues today.

Cotton is one of the most common goods tainted by child labour. Cotton is another agricultural product deeply entangled with child labour. In many cotton-producing regions across West Africa and South Asia, children assist with planting, weeding, and harvesting. Estimates suggest that millions of children work in cotton fields worldwide, often exposed to hazardous chemicals and exhausting conditions during peak seasons.

Morse so, natural rubber (used in tires, gloves, etc.) often comes from small plantations in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. Reports show children tapping rubber trees and handling toxic chemicals in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. Long hours on rubber farms can cause injuries and illness, yet some families feel they have no choice.

Similarly, Jasmine (perfumes and tea) harvesting has been linked to child labour. Even fragrant products are affected. In Egypt, news reports documented children as young as 5 years old picking jasmine flowers from 3am during harvest season. Pickers earn as low as £1.50, with such low pay, parents often send little ones into fields, sacrificing schooling and safety.

The real cost of child labour is paid by the children and their countries: agricultural products like cocoa, cotton, and rubber are part of global supply chains worth billions, yet behind them are millions of children forced to work instead of learn.

Call to action: Everyone can help turn the tide. We can demand that companies clean up supply chains by supporting fair-trade certification and child-labour monitoring. We can support laws that enforce decent wages and education for farming families. By raising our voices and spending choices, we can ensure no child pays the hidden price of our food or luxury perfumes.