The production of many agricultural goods—coffee, cocoa, bananas, and other fruits and vegetables—often involves risks of forced labor. Advancing the human rights of rural communities is key to our vision of a world where people and nature thrive in harmony. This includes protecting farmworkers’ rights and addressing forced labor in agriculture.
This page features information about the Rainforest Alliance's work to tackle the issue and links to all our forced labor-related content and resources.
We bring together farmers, companies, governments, and civil society organizations to collaborate for systemic change. We work to advance responsible business practices and government policy, and within our own certification program and sustainable development initiatives to advance human rights in the production landscapes where we work.
Our certification program promotes an assess-and-address approach to tackling forced labor. It focuses on prevention, engagement, improvement, and incentivizing farmers and companies to tackle this issue head on.
Download this paper for an in-depth look at the Rainforest Alliance’s position and approach to tackling forced labor.
Download this sell sheet to learn how we help companies to address forced labor and other human rights risks in their supply chains and sourcing landscapes.
Manage risk with the Rainforest Alliance child labor and forced labor sectoral risk maps
This project will provide training and engagement to at least 37,093 workers in the avocado and berry (strawberry and raspberry) sectors in Mexico and the banana and pineapple sectors in Costa Rica. ... Continue Reading
Amid Ghana’s tropical forests and lush hills, the cocoa and gold industries are booming. Ghana is the largest gold producer in Africa, and Ghana and Côte D'Ivoire account for over 60% of global cocoa production. ... Continue Reading
In the rugged hills of Turkey's Black Sea coast, hazelnut production is still mostly manual and heavily reliant on seasonal hired labor.... Continue Reading
To tackle forced labor in the coffee industry, we must also address the social, economic and political issues that go beyond the farm. The solution will require collaboration between farmer communities, companies, civil society, governments, and others.... Continue Reading
Amid Ghana’s tropical forests and lush hills, the cocoa and gold industries are booming. Ghana is the largest gold producer in Africa, and Ghana and Côte D'Ivoire account for over 60% of global cocoa production. ... Continue Reading
Explore our achievements and discover what gave us energy and hope in 2020—a year unlike any other.
The assess-and-address pledge can be used by the Certificate Holder to publicly inform workers/ group members of its commitment to prevent and remediate human rights violations. This is an editable version so that the text can be adjusted to fit the Certificate Holder’s needs and context best. This can then be printed and visually displayed […]
To tackle forced labor in the coffee industry, we must also address the social, economic and political issues that go beyond the farm. The solution will require collaboration between farmer communities, companies, civil society, governments, and others.... Continue Reading
Our 2020 Certification Program—published June 30, 2020, and mandatory for audits beginning July 1, 2021—adopts an “assess-and-address” approach to tackling human rights issues such as forced labor, which will not be tolerated on certified farms or in companies. Rather than imposing a simple prohibition, which often drives the problem underground, the “assess-and-address” approach goes much […]