Field visits continue – Investigating labour conditions in chilli production areas in India

This March we are continuing with our pilot study on minimum wages, in-kind payment and child labour in chili production areas. In February, we were able to resume our field work after the covid 19 travel restrictions had been eased in India. Read about this last field trip and about the aims and methodology of this pilot initiative here. 

Minimum wages 

In India, there is no country-wide minimum wage, it is decided in each state. Efforts are being made by the Government to decide on a “Floor Wage” which will be applicable across the country. However, the floor wage is yet to be decided and announced by the Central Government.  

Currently the Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Program (SSP) for Spices seeks to ensure that “Wage calculations are transparent, equitable and objective including for remuneration based on production, quotas, or piecework. Overtime hours are specified separately.” However, based on Nestlé’s commitments, the long-term goal would be to ensure a “living wage” for all farmers and agricultural workers within the spices supply chain, “progress should be made to close any gaps between current wages and living wages”.  

Based on this vision, we are investigating suitable indexes and methodologies to set up living wage benchmarks and understand how this information can be used most effectively to verify payments of minimum wages of spice farm workers in India for the Nestlé spices sourcing regions.  

Child labour 

Not only is Nestlé committed through the SSP to improving the income of producers but also eradicate child labour. Agriculture is the largest sector making the most use of child labour. For many poor families, involving children in their work is the only way of securing their current and future livelihoods.  

While involving children into the families’ agricultural activities contributes to inter-generational transfer of skills and food security, it is often putting their health and education at risk, jeopardizing their futures. Children’s rights need to be protected and child labour needs to be prevented.  

Ensuring that they get an adequate education and keeping them away from hazardous working conditions, will provide children with a chance for a better life and a more prosperous future. A healthy childhood and adequate education are critical for improved chances of decent employment and a more productive life in adulthood.   

Holistic approach  

As income is strongly inter-linked with the occurrence of child labour, SAN is working towards creating and implementing robust verification systems for these aspects, to improve and protect the livelihoods of spices farmers and their families.  

Only if a sufficient income is earned - that enables families to have a decent standard of living with sufficient food, water, housing, education, health care and others essential needs - children will be able to go to school and grow up to become healthy adults.  

However, we cannot look at those aspects alone, we must apply a holistic approach to contribute to sustainable livelihoods in the long-term. Therefore, we are working with multiple stakeholders and our other key areas for intervention include soil conservation, efficient water use, improving safety conditions, and supporting a more biodiverse environment, which all support healthy and resilient living and working conditions for current and future generations.  

Stay tuned - more updates on our activities are following!  

Do you want to know more or know how to get engaged?

Contact us at: sustainablesourcing@san.ag