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Nestlé and the International Labour Organisation launched a two-year programme in March 2026 to improve labour rights in coffee supply chains. The project is about fair recruitment and better protection of workers in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
Particular attention is paid to seasonal and migrant workers, groups that may be at greater risk of informal employment, unsafe conditions and unfair recruitment practices. Coffee is seasonal labour dependent and protecting these workers is essential to the durability of the supply chain.
Nestlé’s position in the global coffee sector and the ILO’s expertise on labour standards. The approach seeks to expose weaknesses in existing systems, while motivating governments, employers and workers’ organisations to be part of the solutions.
The larger aim is to make coffee supply chains more inclusive and sustainable. Better labour conditions could improve worker security and help producers and businesses to retain a more stable workforce.
Why Seasonal And Migrant Coffee Workers Deserve Better Protection
Coffee production often depends on workers who migrate to agricultural areas in line with the harvest season. Migrant workers may experience further difficulties with documentation, accommodation, access to services and communication. Language or administrative barriers may prevent them from understanding employment rights or reporting issues in the workplace.
The Nestlé-ILO initiative is to explore these vulnerabilities at country level. Understanding the reality of recruitment and employment in particular coffee-producing regions can help us develop solutions more practical than one-size-fits-all rules.
Fair Recruitment Helps Mitigate Risks Of Exploitation
Recruitment is a critical moment for the protection of coffee workers, as conditions of employment can be established long before a worker arrives on a farm. Unclear recruitment arrangements can leave workers unsure about their pay, hours, deductions and other terms.
The partnership is based on principles of the ILO’s Fair Recruitment Initiative. The framework encourages transparent recruitment and aims to ensure that workers are not charged inappropriate recruitment fees.
Clear information can help workers better understand the terms of their employment before they start work. Transparent contracts also help to avoid conflicts between workers, recruiters and employers.
Safety At The Workplace Is The Key To Sustainable Coffee Production
Coffee cultivation is laborious and fraught with agricultural hazards. Workers may be exposed to risks related to machinery, tools, chemicals, difficult terrain, long working hours and weather conditions.
The initiative links worker protection to the wider occupational safety and health work of the ILO, including objectives linked to the Vision Zero Fund and the Safety + Health for All program.
Avoiding injuries in the workplace improves the welfare of workers and agricultural productivity. A safer working environment is better suited to ensure consistent production during demanding harvesting periods.
Social Dialogue Can Tackle Root Causes Of Labour Problems
The initiative focuses on social dialogue as the core of its approach. Governments, employers and trade unions can offer different perspectives on labour shortages, recruitment practices and workplace safety.
This kind of collaboration can help to identify problems that may not be visible from the perspective of one institution alone. Employers can identify recruitment and workforce issues. Workers ’ organisations can offer direct insight into employment conditions.
Brazil, Colombia And Mexico Offer Important Test Cases
Brazil, Colombia and Mexico were selected for the initiative due to their importance for coffee production and the presence of seasonal and migrant labour in agricultural supply chains.
Labour markets, agricultural systems and migration patterns are different in each country. Research at the country level can thus shed light on how recruitment and worker protection issues vary across coffee-producing regions.
Better Labour Standards Could Bolster Coffee Supply Chains
The protection of workers is increasingly linked to resilience in supply chains. Labour shortages, unsafe working conditions and high turnover can pose operational challenges for agricultural producers.
A coffee supply chain relies on dependable harvesting and processing. If producers are unable to hire enough workers during key times, coffee production can be affected, which could affect prices and availability.
Partnerships Expand The Nescafé Plan
This is part of Nestlé’s broader commitment to creating resilient and inclusive coffee value chains through its Nescafé Plan.
A major challenge for the global coffee sector is addressing the tension between commercial demand and the economic and social realities experienced by producers and workers. Labour conditions are a significant part of that equation.
Data From Coffee-Producing Countries May Help Set Global Standards
A key part of the initiative is the focus on country-specific data. Data from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico can contribute to a clearer picture of how labour systems function in major coffee-producing areas.
Such information can help identify common weaknesses and differences country by country. Different solutions may be needed for recruitment practices, labour shortages and safety risks depending on the local situation.
Worker Protection Benefits For Producers And Businesses
Labour standards are sometimes seen as compliance issues, but better employment conditions can also bring economic benefits to producers. For companies sourcing coffee, better labour standards can improve credibility in the supply chain. Consumers and investors are increasingly concerned with how agricultural products are produced and how workers are treated.
Millions Of Workers Make The World’s Coffee Production Possible
Coffee production is estimated to provide a livelihood for between 20 and 25 million families worldwide, demonstrating the extent of the labour issues involved. Thus, any progress in protecting workers could have repercussions that extend well beyond the three countries that are the target of the initiative.
Coffee-producing communities often rely on seasonal agricultural jobs. Changes in the conditions of work can affect household income, local economies and the attractiveness of farming as an employment opportunity in the long-term.
The Future Of Coffee: How Better Labour Standards Could Change It
The Nestlé-ILO initiative is part of a broader effort to make worker protection part of sustainable supply chains. Good recruitment, occupational safety and social dialogue can underpin the foundations of global coffee production.
The emphasis on Brazil, Colombia and Mexico offers an opportunity to learn about practical approaches in large coffee-producing settings. Evidence gathered during the two-year program could help pinpoint ways that can ultimately be applied in other places.
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