Cadbury Issues: A Case Study Based On Filipino Perspective

Abstract

This case study was conducted to recognize the point of view of a Filipino citizen regarding the Cadbury chocolate company's issues relative to the child slave labor system in its production line, especially at the outset of rigorous provisions under United States law. These provisions are associated with permitting procedures through standardization and regulation of its products with the Food and Drug Administration. This descriptive article evaluates the facts and problems arising from the employment of children in cocoa plantations within Cadbury's chocolate industry in West Africa, highlighting the pervasive exploitation of young children in cocoa-producing regions. The cocoa industry's reliance on enslavement, affecting hundreds of thousands of workers, is a severe form of food crime. The imminent enforcement of U.S. legislation requiring "slave-free labor" product labeling makes compliance challenging for Cadbury. The study employed a focused group discussion with graduate students from multi-sectoral professional fields, aiming to address the case's challenges through extensive discourse and generate recommendations. Participants were asked to propose solutions as if they were Cadbury's managers. Relevant management theories, models, and organizational principles were applied to support the recommendations, including adopting Fair-Trade practices and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in operations. Potential strategies for abolishing slave labor in the cocoa sector are also discussed. In conclusion, this study calls for unified local and global efforts to eradicate this grave human rights violation and establish a more sustainable and ethical cocoa supply chain.