Human rights violations have been reported at plantations in virtually all major tea producing countries, while tea growing itself has a profound effect on the local environment. William McLennan reports
… land required to grow it, and the intensive labour needed to harvest it. Human rights … a profound effect on the local environment. Labour conditions Tea production, in particular the labour required for harvesting the leaves by …
New Labour’s close ties to the fast-food industry are working against the interests of public health
… McLabour Exposed Solomon Hughes | 1st March 2004 … Politics And Economics Archive_29.jpg New Labour’s close ties to the fast-food industry … billion by 2010. At the end of last year the Labour government promised to fight this …
Sugar can be produced from both sugar beet and sugarcane. Sugarcane production is of particular concern in terms of environmental degradation and human rights abuses, reports William McLennan
… is harvested by hand and is extremely labour intensive; violations of sugar … rights are frequently reported. Forced Labour Around the world inequality and … are used by rich landowners to secure cheap labour. In Bolivia and Brazil, indigenous …
Fresh, convenient, versatile or overpriced leaves soaked in pesticides and produced by slave labour?
… soaked in pesticides and produced by slave labour? In an idle moment I decided to … from the unwashed hands of farm or pack-house labourers, from manure that has not been … as salad are now dependent on cheap, casual labour. That cheap labour is largely provided …
The recent conviction of three men in the Czech Republic for people trafficking offences shone a light on the hidden exploitation and violence endured by farm workers cultivating asparagus for European diners
… “Across Europe the trafficking for forced labour is on the increase, becoming even more … gangmasters responsible for forced labour receiving fines for breaching health … the necessary strong message that forced labour will not be tolerated.” The film comes …
Migrant workers are vital for meeting the UK's demand for year-round fruit and vegetables. But despite improvements since the Morecambe Bay tragedy, allegations of poor conditions and abuse in the horticulture sector persist. Andrew Wasley reports
… Farming Horticulture Salad Migrant Workers Labour Rights Supermarkets News … Licensing Authority (GLA) to regulate labour providers across the food processing, … a more permanent basis, phase out casualised labour, and allow unions greater access to …
Child labour is still in routine use in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan, according to a new investigation by the
Environmental Justice Foundation.
… Child labour still prevalent in Uzbekistan The … Society Food And Farming inthenews.jpg Child labour is still in routine use in the cotton … agreements banning the use of child labour, the Uzbek government continues to put …
The GM public debate, which runs throughout June and July, is the public’s chance to express any concerns it may have over the growing of GM crops in Britain. Andy Rowell explains why your participation is vital
… seen as a key economic engine driver by the Labour government. Led by the Department of … Diatech and Innotech. He is also New Labour’s largest single donor, having donated … nature protection minister Eliot Morley. In Labour’s first two years in power alone, GM …
Amnesty International report calls for urgent action to tackle 'widespread' abuse of migrants in the food sector. This follows two Ecologist investigations into 'slave labour' connected to the Italian tomato and orange harvests. Andrew Wasley reports
… Politics And Economics Migrant Workers Labour Exploitation News 1844a.jpg Amnesty … two Ecologist investigations into 'slave labour' connected to the Italian tomato and … contribute to the exploitation of migrant labourers. “In the past decade the Italian …
UK's new trade and agriculture commission must address the dangers and inequalities rife in meat farming and processing.
… forward but have yet to see full scrutiny. Labour There’s surely an important exposé to … survival of the virus – but the nature of the labour and the jobs is crucial too. Workers … this always physically and mentally demanding labour once well-paid and respected. I can …
Across Italy an invisible army of migrant workers harvests tomatoes destined for our dinner plates. Paid poverty wages and living in squalor, medical charities have described conditions as 'hell'. Andrew Wasley reports from Basilicata, southern Italy
… those involved in the supply of seasonal labour. In many cases an Italian gangmaster, … region of Puglia (another hotspot for migrant labour) seasonal workers have recently … economic imperative to keep costs, including labour costs, down: 'The price we have now in …
Advocates of foreign ownership of agricultural land say it brings wealth, infrastructure and new farming techniques; opponents say that displaced and deskilled smallholders are often the result
… uprisings. What farmer wants to be a farm labourer? In theory, the buying or leasing of … any qualifications or experience as skilled labourers. Families in the Phillipines fear … farmers. ‘If they are not absorbed into the labour force then the rural population becomes …
The manufacturer of Fanta is being urged to help address the poor conditions and low wages endured by some African migrant workers harvesting oranges in southern Italy. Andrew Wasley reports from Rosarno
… cashing in on the ready supply of cheap labour. The gangmasters, both Africans and … in overcrowded flats or apartments. Hard labour For those that find work during the … is why they are reliant on cheap, migrant labour: 'Young Italians are not likely to want …
The 'Immokalee babies' were born with severe deformities after their mothers were each exposed to pesticides whilst harvesting tomatoes. Barry Estabrook reports on the case that shocked the US
… case that shocked the US Tower Cabins is a labour camp consisting of about thirty drab … region. The community of poor migrant labourers is dreary at the best of times, but … Harvest: new film reveals scourge of child labour in US farming Despite campaigning to …
We were being given 20 to 21 pence a kilo, they were selling them in the stores at twice that, and we needed 32 pence to break even. The prices would change by the day, and then they’d take 60 to 90 days to pay you.
… 2004 News Apples Farming Produce Slave Labour Food Packaging Food Miles Pesticides … Miles Packaging Fair Trade Fair Trade Migrant Labour Organics Supply Chain Fuel Food And … days to pay you, when you’d already paid your labour. If you were a very good boy you’d get …
The Sustainable Development Commission has been axed, the Food Standards Agency has had its powers stripped and DEFRA appears to be stalling. Where then does this leave planning for a national sustainable food strategy - and healthy eating plan - asks Nick Hughes?
… and the progress which was being made under Labour with cross party support has just … the end of the last decade to frighten the Labour government into action. The upshot was … progress in this area. On 5 April this year Labour MP William Bain tabled a question in …
Unilever denies some female employees at its Rainforest Alliance-certified tea plantation in Kenya are subjected to sexual harassment. But Dutch research outfit SOMO paints a very different picture. Verity Largo and Andrew Wasley report
… poor housing conditions, casualisation of labour, violations of employment regulations … issues with the management. Casual labour Valerie, Esther and Rachel – and … Unilever acknowledged it makes use of casual labour but denied any wrongdoing: 'Tea picking …
A new investigation has revealed appalling labour conditions for Burmese migrants working onboard boats supplying 'trash fish' for use in feed given to farmed prawns. But this is just the latest scandal to engulf the global shrimp industry, says Andrew Wasley
… A new investigation has revealed appalling labour conditions for Burmese migrants working … Ecologist has shone a light on the appalling labour conditions experienced by some Burmese … problems linked to industrial shrimp farms. Labour conditions in the global fishing …
What could be more cheerful than this ubiquitous breakfast fruit? But if you’re not buying them Fairtrade and organic, argues Ed Hamer, then you’re buying into a modern agricultural scandal
… hours of 16 March 2007, three agricultural labourers, Alexander Zuñiga, Marco Borges and … for a 10- to 12-hour day of intense physical labour. In Ecuador, they may receive as much … producer countries are subject to domestic labour standards, enforcement is not a …
Violence and incarceration for months or even years found on ships off coast of west Africa, which supply European consumers with fish
… off the coast of west Africa. Forced labour and human rights abuses involving … meet the UN official definition of forced labour or modern-day slavery,' EJF …
A special investigation from Andrew Wasley, Alexandra Heal and Lucy Michaels in London, Dominic Phillips, André Campos and Diego Junqueira in Sao Paulo and Claire Smyth in Belfast.
… of high-level corruption, modern-day “slave labour” practices, illegal deforestation, … when exporting chicken to Europe. "Slave labour" allegations In 2017, an investigation … which have any association with slave labour, as listed by the Brazilian …
The UK will leave the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.
… the end of the transition period. Destructive Labour and campaigners have criticised the … methods like electro-pulse beam trawling. Labour wants this method of fishing banned. …
UK opposition to restricting the use of pesticides in the 1990s and 00s has at times even seen the intervention of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to lobby the case for the farming industry
… decade. But throughout, both the previous Labour administration and current Coalition … of the changes called for in the campaign. Labour Ministers repeatedly rejected calls for … sees it very differently. 'The previous Labour administration and the current …