An “overwhelming” three quarters (75 per cent) of pension savers want to see shareholders of Mondelez vote for the company to better evidence their work at ending child and forced labour at the upcoming AGM, research from PensionBee has revealed.

The survey found that 75 per cent of pension holders, equal to nearly 24 million people, would vote in favour of demanding Mondelez better demonstrate their actions at addressing child and forced labour issues within their cocoa supply chain by 2025 by setting specific goals and sharing numbers to showcase its progress.

This comes ahead of Mondelez's AGM, scheduled for 22 May, where shareholders will be presented with a number of questions and resolutions, including one on child and forced labour.

PensionBee highlighted the findings as demonstration of the growing demand for corporate accountability and transparency, particularly concerning human rights issues in global supply chains, with previous research also revealing pension saver support for a shareholder resolution urging Nestlé to increase healthy food production.

It also argued that, with shareholder activism gaining momentum, Mondelez faces mounting pressure to address concerns regarding child and forced labour in its cocoa-sourcing practices.

PensionBee chief engagement officer, Clare Reilly, said: “Pension savers have told us they want to see action from Mondelez this AGM season. Savers are clear that exploitative child labour in our chocolate supply chains needs to end.

“As shareholders convene at their AGM this week, this resolution again underscores growing calls for increased corporate accountability and an end to these practices throughout the cocoa industry. With Mondelez's global reach , the time for action from shareholders through voting is now.”

Mondelez recently shared its 2023 Snacking Made Right Report, however, which outlined its ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable snacking company.

In particular, the report highlighted Mondelez International’s Cocoa Life sourcing program, which was launched in 2012 to help tackle the "complex, interconnected challenges" in the coco value chain.

As part of the Cocoa Life programme Mondelez International also developed the Cocoa Life Strategy To Help Protect Children, which sets out the group's approach to help enhance child protection systems and improve access to quality education in Cocoa Life communities, working toward a cocoa sector that is free of child labour.

This includes specific prevention efforts and collaboration on systemic solutions, as well as efforts to monitor the problem and help identify cases of child labour.

"We facilitate investments in Cocoa Life communities (communities engaged through implementing partners where farmers registered or participating in the Cocoa Life Program reside) and work with governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and sector partners on long-term initiatives that help protect children and tackle systemic challenges," the report stated.

"We strive to ensure that our efforts reflect the diverse needs of community members."

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