Banana workers in Costa Rica have received compensation payments following a complaint filed by Oxfam Germany and the Costa Rican trade union SITRAP under the German Supply Chain Law. The complaint involved alleged violations of labour rights at an Aldi banana supplier in Costa Rica, including low wages, aerial pesticide spraying, and discrimination against union members.
Under the Supply Chain Law, trade unions and NGOs can submit complaints on behalf of affected workers, and companies can face penalties if they fail to address human rights violations within their supply chains. "I have many colleagues who were fired simply for having a coffee or a drink with me. They can no longer find work because unions are not respected," said Cristino Hernández, a trade unionist in Costa Rica.
After receiving the complaint, Aldi entered discussions with SITRAP and Oxfam, engaging its supplier and local producer to review the issues raised. Aldi also conducted on-site investigations in Costa Rica, involving the union in the process. Negotiations later focused on wage payment irregularities, and affected workers were able to present their cases with the support of Costa Rican labour lawyers.
In August, the Costa Rican producer made compensation payments to a group of complainants. "We are very pleased that payments have been made to those affected for the first time. This means a great deal to us! The payments provide direct help to people. We would not have been able to achieve this without the Supply Chain Act," said Didier Leitón, Secretary General of SITRAP.
Aldi Süd's Director of Sustainability, Maximilian Vogt, said, "Our goal is a noticeable improvement in the human rights situation in supply chains. We expressly support human rights due diligence legislation such as the German Supply Chain Act and the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Cases like this clearly demonstrate that such regulations make a concrete contribution to protecting those affected."
While progress has been made on wage issues and occupational safety, Aldi, its supplier, and the local producer confirmed that some matters remain unresolved and that collaboration continues to ensure lasting improvements.
Oxfam Germany noted that other retailers, including Rewe and Edeka, did not take similar steps following comparable complaints. As a result, Oxfam Germany has filed a complaint against them with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, the authority overseeing enforcement of the Supply Chain Law.
Source: BananaLink
