German Cabinet ministers Hubertus Heil and Svenja Schulze set off today for a trip to western Africa aimed at tackling child labour in cocoa production and other unethical production practices.

Labour Minister Heil and Development Minister Schulze plan to visit cocoa production sites in Ghana and Ivory Coast, as well as textile factories, during their five-day visit.

The trip comes after Germany adopted legislation this year obliging companies to ensure human rights are observed throughout the production process of goods sold in Germany.

The new rules aim to help people ‘at the start of the supply chain,’ Schulze said ahead of their departure, which coincides with the United Nations’ annual World Day of Social Justice.

‘Whoever does business globally, whoever makes profits globally, must also assume global responsibility,’ Heil added.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency