Starbucks and Nestlé Face Scrutiny as New Report Highlights Unethical Labor Practices

ETHICAL COFFEE PRODUCTION: STARBUCKS AND NESTLE CERTIFICATION CHALLENGED
KEY FINDINGS
Report by Coffee Watch and China Labor Watch
Investigated coffee farms in Yunnan Province, China
Allegations of labor violations in Starbucks and Nestle supply chains
REPORTED LABOR VIOLATIONS
Child labor
Excessive working hours (12 hours/day, 7 days/week)
No paid leave or medical insurance
Lack of safety equipment
Exposure to harsh conditions and agrochemicals
CERTIFICATION LOOPHOLES
"Ghost farms" bypass ethical certification standards
Large estates certified but source from unregulated smaller farms
Violations of:
Company certification standards (C.A.F.E. Practices, 4C)
China's labor laws
COMPANY RESPONSES
Starbucks: Committed to investigating
Nestle: Taking allegations seriously
Both claim to be unaware of specific violations
BROADER IMPLICATIONS
Questioning effectiveness of current ethical certification systems
Challenges in supply chain transparency
Ongoing concerns about labor practices in global coffee production
The report raises significant questions about the reliability of ethical sourcing certifications in the coffee industry.