ILO and Nestlé Join Forces to Tackle Labor Rights Gaps in Coffee Supply Chains
April 4 - 2026
Coffee Geography Magazine
The International Labor Organization and Nestlé have announced an expanded partnership aimed at addressing persistent labor rights issues in coffee supply chains across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
The two-year initiative, titled "From fair recruitment to worker protection in coffee supply chains," comes as an estimated 20–25 million families worldwide depend on coffee production for their livelihoods. Despite coffee's economic significance, the ILO says decent work deficits remain widespread, particularly affecting seasonal and migrant workers who face heightened risks of exploitation and unsafe conditions.
Under the agreement, the ILO will leverage its standard-setting authority to facilitate social dialogue between governments, employers, and workers' organizations in the three sourcing countries. The goal is to identify root causes of labor rights gaps and develop targeted interventions promoting fair recruitment practices and worker protection.
"Decent work deficits in coffee supply chains persist, particularly among seasonal and migrant workers," said Dan Rees, Director of the ILO's Priority Action Program on Decent Work in Supply Chains. "Through this project, we aim to advance labor rights and promote decent work and contribute to more sustainable supply chains."
The project will implement country-level measures tailored to local challenges while simultaneously fostering global knowledge-sharing across the coffee sector. Nestlé's Nescafé Plan, the brand's flagship sustainability program, is backing the initiative.
Antje Shaw- Head of Sustainability for Coffee at Nestlé
"Our partnership with the ILO represents a significant step to advancing and promoting human rights in coffee supply chains," said Antje Shaw, Head of Sustainability for Coffee at Nestlé. "By working together, we can progress faster in creating more resilient and inclusive coffee value chains, where workers are treated with dignity."
The collaboration also supports two broader ILO efforts: the Fair Recruitment Initiative, which promotes ethical hiring practices worldwide, and the Vision Zero Fund, part of the Safety + Health for All program, which advances the fundamental right to safe working environments in supply chains.
Nestlé, a founding member of the ILO-convened Child Labor Platform, has a longstanding history of partnering with the organization on labor rights initiatives in agricultural supply chains. The new coffee-focused project builds directly on that foundation.