Publications

Brewing Misery: Condition of Working Families in Tea Plantations in West Bengal and Kerala

Publication Date: 

January 15, 2015
India is the largest producer of black tea globally, India also is the largest consumer of black tea. Global black tea production is highly concentrated, with India, Sri Lanka and Kenya together accounting for 60-62 per cent of the total black tea supply. Sri Lanka and Kenya export 90-95 per cent of their black tea output as the domestic market is miniscule. India, on the other hand, typically exports only 17-20 percent of its produce.

Justice Delayed: The Long Road of the Guatemala CAFTA Complaint

Publication Date: 

January 12, 2015
In September 2014, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it will finally proceed to arbitration against the Government of Guatemala, more than six years after a complaint was filed alleging that Guatemala was violating the labor standards contained in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). 
 

Tobacco Production and Tenancy Labour in Malawi

Publication Date: 

January 12, 2015

Summary:

Tenants provide most of the labour and bear most of the risk in production of the tobacco crop, and yet they receive only a fraction of end sale of the tobacco, have no job security, are typically provided with poor housing and few social services amenities, and have little or no leverage at all in negotiating or enforcing their verbal contracts; and last they have inadequate legal protection with regard to their plight.

Letter to the Thai Government in support of Andy Hall

Publication Date: 

October 28, 2014

To Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha:

We are writing to request your assistance in ending the abusive use of Thailand’s criminal defamation law and Computer Crimes Act to silence migrant labor rights defender Andy Hall. The Royal Government of Thailand should respect freedom of speech and make sure that human rights defenders can continue their work free from judicial harassment.

Fair Share Wrappers for Your Holiday Treats!

Publication Date: 

October 24, 2014

The chocolate treats we enjoy this holiday season likely have a dark side.

The chocolate industry earns an estimated $110 billion a year, yet many of the farmers who grow cocoa live in abject poverty. Despite some progress, child labor remains a serious problem in cocoa growing communities. Farmers lack critical voice in a cocoa marketplace that does not provide fair, sustainable incomes for farmers or wages for farm workers.

Pages