An external evaluation of ICI’s community-based grievance mechanisms in cocoa-growing communities in Ghana has revealed their effectiveness in protecting labour rights and resolving disputes between workers and employers. These findings suggest they could be an effective approach to preventing and addressing the risk of forced labour in cocoa.
Forced labour is all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily. Unfortunately, forced labour and labour rights abuses exist in cocoa farming and common risks include the lack of formal contracts, withholding of wages or workers performing tasks that were not specified at the time of recruitment.
Grievance mechanisms are formal processes that allow individuals to raise complaints about actions that may have impacted their human rights or labour rights. In the context of cocoa farming, these mechanisms can be used to resolve work-related disputes, investigate allegations of abuse, provide solutions for those affected, and ultimately prevent further harm.
Since 2022, ICI has put in place community-based grievance mechanisms in cocoa-growing communities in Ghana through Community Labour Protection Committees. These groups of trained adult volunteers raise awareness about labour rights, listen to grievances, and work to resolve them. If cases are too complex, the Committees refer them to the relevant governmental authorities.
Effective conflict resolution
The evaluation revealed that community-based grievance mechanisms provided an accessible avenue for workers to report complaints. Most of the grievances handled by the Community Labour Protection Committees involved employer-worker disagreements and child labour and protection issues.
The Committees effectively mediated disputes between employers and workers and addressed instances of misconduct, strengthening employer-worker relationships. They also played a key role in enhancing awareness of labour rights.
"The last time I had issues with my farm owner, it was settled peacefully, and
the relationship between us is much better than before.”
Cocoa farm caretaker
One of the key factors contributing to this success was the facilitation of written contracts. By supporting employers and workers in formalizing agreements, the committees helped clarify expectations and facilitated effective conflict resolution.
"Having a contract helps us avoid misunderstandings. It’s easier to resolve issues
when both parties know what was agreed upon.”
Employer
Community trust and local ownership
Workers and employers in cocoa-growing communities have positively received community-based grievance mechanisms. They view them as accessible, fair, and effective tools for resolving labour disputes and improving worker-employer relations.
"They make sure to listen to both parties and make judgments without fear or
favour so that the one who is guilty is brought to book.”
Worker
A key factor in their acceptance is the local composition of committee members, which makes them more approachable and trustworthy. Additionally, widespread awareness of the grievance mechanisms has been crucial to their success. Workers reported learning about the committees through various channels, including public announcements, community gatherings, and direct outreach. With this in mind, ICI has supported Committees to set up Community Information Centres as an income-generating activity that could help increase awareness about the Committee's work. Watch this video to learn more about this innovative initiative.
Key recommendations
While the evaluation revealed promising results, it also identified areas for improvement to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of community-based grievance mechanisms:
- Provide regular training and resources to committee members
- Strengthen collaboration with government stakeholders to enhance the referral process
- Integrate technology into the grievance mechanism to facilitate reporting and monitoring of grievances
- Ensure local sustainable funding to ensure committee members are motivated and can fulfil their responsibilities in full
With continued support, community-based grievance mechanisms have the potential to significantly advance labour rights protection in cocoa-growing communities and serve as a model for similar initiatives in other agricultural sectors.
Additional Resources
- Learning into Action brief summarises how to set up community-based grievance mechanisms to address forced labour risks in cocoa-growing communities.
- Films and radio spots to raise awareness about labour rights and the role of grievance mechanisms.