Nestlé has partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to launch a two-year initiative aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and improving labour rights across coffee supply chains in Latin America.
The project will focus on key coffee-producing countries—Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico—where interventions will be carried out to address labour risks and strengthen working conditions. According to the companies, the initiative will also generate insights to support knowledge-sharing across the global coffee sector.
As part of the collaboration, the ILO will act as a facilitator, bringing together governments, employers, and worker organizations to identify gaps in labour standards and the root causes of workforce vulnerabilities, particularly among seasonal and migrant workers. Nestlé will use these findings to design and implement country-level interventions.
The initiative is aligned with Nestlé’s sustainability roadmap under the Nescafé Plan 2030, which focuses on improving farmer livelihoods, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and addressing social issues such as human rights and child protection within coffee supply chains.
Coffee production supports the livelihoods of an estimated 20–25 million families globally, but labour challenges persist, especially in informal and seasonal employment. The ILO said the programme aims to promote “decent work” while contributing to more sustainable and transparent supply chains.
Nestlé has also been expanding its sustainability efforts in sourcing. In 2024, the company reported that 32 per cent of its coffee was sourced from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices, surpassing its 2025 target of 20 per cent.
However, the move comes amid broader scrutiny of labour practices in global food supply chains. A recent benchmark by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre found that most leading food and beverage companies, including Nestlé, are still lagging in addressing forced labour risks, particularly those exacerbated by climate change.
The partnership signals a growing push within the industry to strengthen ethical sourcing practices and improve working conditions across complex global supply networks.