A collaborative approach for decent work and sustainable coffee supply chains
From fair recruitment to worker protection in coffee supply chains
ILO and Nestlé are implementing a two-year project to promote fair recruitment and labour rights in coffee supply chains in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
Duration
26 November 2025 - 15 November 2027
Budget
USD 1,269,714
Development partner(s)
Nestlé SA.
Reference
GLO/25/19/NES
Location
Brazil, Colombia, Mexico
Contact
Andrea Dávila
Objective
The ILO and Nestlé are supporting responsible and resilient coffee supply chains at the global level and in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico by promoting labour rights and fair recruitment.
The project promotes social dialogue among governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations to address the root causes of decent work deficits and labour-related risks in coffee supply chains. Through this approach, the project aims to strengthen the protection of labour rights by contributing to the prevention of unfair recruitment and forced labour, and by promoting safer and healthier working environments. It also seeks to support more sustainable rural economies and better livelihoods for workers, producers and communities across coffee-growing regions.
Global level
Strengthen knowledge and understanding of effective approaches to promote fair recruitment, prevent forced labour, and strengthen occupational safety and health (OSH) in coffee supply chains, in line with international labour standards, while fostering global knowledge-sharing and dialogue across the sector.
Key results
- A Theory of Change to advance fair recruitment, prevent forced labour and promote OSH in coffee supply chains is developed, informed by country-level implementation.
- Collective action across the coffee sector is fostered through multi-stakeholder dialogue, global knowledge-sharing, and the exchange of promising practices.
Country level
Objective
- Strengthen fair recruitment, public labour intermediation systems and the prevention of forced labour in the coffee sector through improved coordination between workers, producers and labour institutions across migration corridors in Brazil.
Key results
- Producers, local institutions and public employment services adopt more transparent and structured recruitment practices connected to public employment systems.
- Public institutions and social partners improve coordination, worker protection measures to combat forced labour and governance of seasonal labour mobility between origin and destination regions.
- Pilot experiences developed in the coffee sector generate lessons and models to strengthen public labour intermediation systems in other rural supply chains across Brazil.
Objective
- Advance decent work, with a focus on promoting safer workplaces and fair recruitment in the coffee sector, by improving OSH practices and other priorities identified by sector stakeholders.
Key results
- Coffee stakeholders in Risaralda and Huila enhance their knowledge, tools and practices to improve OSH and working conditions throughout the coffee supply chain.
- Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations and sector stakeholders strengthen their capacities to promote decent work practices at regional and national levels with a focus on OSH and fair recruitment.
Objective
- Advance fair recruitment and protect coffee workers, including migrants, through improved recruitment practices, prevention of forced labour and enhanced capacities of producers, cooperatives and labour institutions in coffee-growing regions.
Key results
- Producers and cooperatives in Chiapas and Veracruz adopt practices that improve working conditions and protect coffee farm workers.
- Public institutions and employers’ and workers’ organizations strengthen labour policies, enforcement mechanisms and worker protection measures at state and national levels.
- Binational cooperation between Mexico and Guatemala is strengthened, alongside communication campaigns promoting compliance with the ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment.
Development partner
The project "From fair recruitment to worker protection in coffee supply chains" is funded by Nestlé S.A. The content of this project page is the sole responsibility of the project and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nestlé S.A.
Project publications
From fair recruitement to worker protection in coffee supply chains (2025-2027) - Project overview