Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility 60 Countries

Question: Discuss about the Corporate Governance and Social Responsibilityfor60 Countries. Answer: Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility The Hershey Company popularly called as Hersheys was founded in the year, 1894 by Milton S. Hershey is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America that sells its products to more than 60 countries across the globe (The Hershey Company, 2016). The company is recognised worldwide for the rich taste of its chocolates and other confectionaries, owing to which it enjoys a huge consumer loyalty. The Milton Hershey School in Pennsylvania for male Caucasian boy started as an orphanage is the worlds most wealthiest schools(Bloxham, 2012). On one hand the Hersheys boost of its social responsibilities towards the society and its children and on other hand it sources its cocoa from West African suppliers how are accused of using child labour in their cocoa farms. A law suit was filed against Hersheys by one of its own shareholders for having knowingly taken the decision sourcing cocoa from manufacturers who are associated with unethical practices of child labour and human trafficking. Is it ethical to source cocoa from suppliers in West Africa who use children as salves at their cocoa farms? These children at a very tender age are forced to work under dangerous and sometimes life threatening work conditions. Child labour has a direct impact on the economical growth and development of this region(Baird, Guevara, Karpechenko, 2012). Children are kept away from education which directly hampers their future. Unethical practice of using child labour and human trafficking is continuing since generations at the cocoa fields of West Africa. However, companies like Hersheys still source their cocoa from these suppliers as it helps reducing overall production costs and thus enhance profitability. References Baird, H., Guevara, N., Karpechenko, A. (2012). The Hershey Company and West African Cocoa Communities. Retrieved 2015, from https://danielsethics.mgt.unm.edu/pdf/Hershey%20Case.pdf Bloxham, E. (2012). Chocolate and child labor: A hurdle for Hershey. Retrieved 2015, from https://fortune.com/2012/11/16/chocolate-and-child-labor-a-hurdle-for-hershey/ The Hershey Company. (2016). Company Profile. Retrieved 2016, from https://www.thehersheycompany.com/investors/company-profile.aspx