Human Rights

 

Minimum Age for Employment

EJ Flomo Cocoa. prohibits child labor and will strictly abide by ILO Convention 138 on the Minimum Age, and Convention 182 on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. The ILO Convention 138 on the Minimum Age indicates that no child below 15 years (or 14 in certain developing countries) is allowed to work, subject to exceptions allowed by the ILO or national law. Liberia’s Labour Law further states that children younger than 16 are prohibited from working during school hours, while those between 16-18 can engage in light work that is not harmful to their physical and moral development.

 

Fair and Equal Treatment

EJ Flomo Cocoa will operate with dignity, respect and integrity in regards the treatment of our employees and outgrowers:

·             EJ Flomo Cocoa will not discriminate in hiring, contracting and employment practices on the grounds of criteria such as of race, color, religion, gender, age, physical ability, national origin, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, medical tests, or marital status, in line with ILO Convention No. 111 on Discrimination.

·             Any form of psychological, physical, sexual or verbal abuse, intimidation, threat or harassment will not be tolerated.

·             EJ Flomo Cocoa will respect the privacy rights of its employees whenever it gathers private information or implements employee monitoring practices.

·             EJ Flomo Cocoa employs security personnel to provide security to safeguard its personnel and property and expects that security personnel will enforce the same standards on fair and equal treatment.

Forced Labour

EJ Flomo Cocoa will under no circumstances use, or in any other way benefit, from forced labor in line with ILO Convention No. 29 on Forced Labor and ILO Convention No. 105 on Abolition of Forced Labor. Forced labor refers to any form of indentured servitude such as the use of physical punishment, confinement, or threats of violence as a method of discipline or control such as retaining employees’ identification, passports, work permits or deposits as a condition of employment.

 

Employment Practices

EJ Flomo Cocoa will only employ workers who are legally authorized to work in our facilities. We will validate employees’ eligibility to work through appropriate documentation. All work shall be voluntary, and workers shall be free to leave work or terminate their employment upon reasonable notice. To every extent possible, work performed must be on the basis of a recognized employment relationship established through Liberia’s law and practice.

 

EJ Flomo Cocoa’s outgrower farmers shall be offered an at-will contract and may withdraw their partnership for any reason and at any time after the transfer of their quota for cocoa beans in that season. Likewise, EJ Flomo Cocoa commits to mitigate potential threats to human rights, the environment, and/or the quality of cocoa that does not meet its standards and terminate the contract if and when correction cannot be made by the outgrower.

Gender Equality and Women’s Inclusion

EJ Flomo Cocoa commits to improving and empowering the position of women across our supply chain. We commit to adhering to the four key ILO gender equality Conventions including on Equal Remuneration (100), Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) (111), Workers with Family Responsibilities (156) and Maternity Protection (183). We recognize the important contribution of women in cocoa production and commit to meaningful inclusion not only because it results in better quality cocoa, but because it is the right thing to do.

Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

EJ Flomo Cocoa shall grant its employees the right to Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

 

Working Time and Rest Days

EJ Flomo Cocoa will ensure that its employees and outgrowers work in compliance with all applicable laws and mandatory industry standards pertaining to regular working hours, and overtime hours, including for breaks, rest periods, holidays, and maternity and paternity leaves. In absence of law, EJ Flomo Cocoa will not require a regular work week over 60 hours, employees shall be allowed at least one day off after six consecutive days of work, and any overtime worked shall be voluntary and compensated at premium rate.

Wages and Benefits

EJ Flomo Cocoa’s employees will be provided with wages and benefits that, at a minimum, comply with Liberia’s laws or industry standards whichever is higher, as well as binding collective agreements, including those pertaining to overtime work and other premium pay arrangements. In any event, wages will be enough to meet basic needs for employees, and their entitled official dependents, and to provide some discretionary income. EJ Flomo Cocoa will not apply disciplinary or any other forms of deductions from pay neither apply any forms of discrimination in employment and remuneration practices.

 

EJ Flomo Cocoa’s outgrowers will be provided with fair wages for wet cocoa beans and/or properly processed dry beans per mutual agreement and premium wages when applicable from the sales of premium cocoa.