Finnwatch: Child labour found behind coffee imported to Finland

The Finnish corporate social responsibility watchdog organisation, Finnwatch, has investigated working conditions on coffee farms and plantations supplying coffee to Finland for different brands. The findings were not flattering: according to the organisation, the investigation into coffee farms revealed pay levels below living wage levels, child labour, discrimination and exorbitant recruitment fees.

Finnwatch reports that all the farms investigated have supplied coffee to some roasters operating in Finland, such as Gustav Paulig, Meira, Arvid Nordquist and Löfbergs Lila. The farms are located in Brazil, Honduras and India. The number of problems identified by the organisation was lowest in Brazil; however, the report still indicates that a subcontractor for Meira, for example, systematically discriminates against women in its recruitment practices.

‘In Honduras, low pay levels have led to human rights problems, including widespread child labour. Child labour was found at all farms investigated, including certified farms. The youngest workers interviewed were just 5 to 6 years old,’ says Finnwatch researcher Anu Kultalahti.

In India, seasonal workers have to pay up to one third of their earnings to the labour broker who recruited them. In the worst cases, this can lead to a sort of debt bondage.

The report indicates that problems could even be found on certified farms, although the working conditions there were generally better than usual. However, Finnwatch gives credit to coffee industry players for their efforts to increase the supply of certified coffee. According to the organisation, the companies that have made the most progress in this respect are Kesko and Arvid Nordquist.