Banana workers in Costa Rica have received compensation payments following a complaint by Oxfam Germany and the Costa Rican trade union SITRAP under the German Supply Chain Law regarding labour rights violations at an Aldi banana supplier in the country.
The original complaint contained allegations which included: excessively low wages, aerial spraying of pesticides, and discrimination against union members. These are all violations of rights protected by the Supply Chain law, under which trade unions and NGOs can file complaints on behalf of victims, and companies can be fined if they fail to comply with their human rights due diligence obligations to prevent or remedy the human rights violations in question.
“I have many colleagues who were fired simply for having a coffee or a drink with me. They can no longer find work because unions are not respected.” – Cristino Hernández, trade unionist in Costa Rica
Since receiving the complaint, Aldi has been working constructively towards a solution, and sat down with the complaining Costa Rican union SITRAP, listened to their concerns, and worked together with its supplier and the local producer to find solutions. This is what the Supply Chain Act and its European counterpart – the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive – stipulate.
Aldi then conducted its own on-site investigations, involving the union in the process, and subsequent negotiations with suppliers, the union, and Oxfam focused on irregularities in wage payments. In the presence of labour lawyers from Costa Rica, those affected had the opportunity to present their case in detail.
In August of this year, a breakthrough came, with the producer in Costa Rica making payments to a group of complainants.
“We are very pleased that payments have been made to those affected for the first time. This means a great deal to us! The payments provide direct help to people. We would not have been able to achieve this without the Supply Chain Act.” Didier Leitón, Secretary General of the SITRAP union
Maximilian Vogt, Director of Sustainability at Aldi Süd said .
“Our goal is a noticeable improvement in the human rights situation in supply chains. We expressly support human rights due diligence legislation such as the German Supply Chain Act and the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Cases like this clearly demonstrate that such regulations make a concrete contribution to protecting those affected.”
Significant progress has also been made on other issues, such as occupational safety. However, not all allegations have yet been resolved. ” Aldi , the supplier, and the local producer confirm that (…) they continue to work together to address all outstanding issues sustainably.”
In contrast, Rewe and Edeka did not take any corresponding measures in response to similar complaints, which is why Oxfam Germany filed a complaint against these supermarkets with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, the authority responsible for the supply chain law.
Photo: M.Rennim on Unsplash
