REPORTS ON THE ETI IMPACT ASSESSMENT 2006
The ETI code of labour practice: Do workers really benefit?

About this report

This report provides a more detailed account of the findings and recommendations from the Costa Rica (bananas) case study, one of five in-depth case studies carried out as part of the ETI Impact Assessment. It will be relevant to all those involved in monitoring and improving labour conditions in the export banana industry in Costa Rica, including retailers and brands, agents and suppliers, auditors, NGOs and trade unions.

The report provides:

• An overview of the scope of the case study and how it was conducted
• Relevant background information on the Costa Rican banana industry
• An account of how a multinational food company (an ETI member) has been implementing its code of practice, and the impact this is having for workers on its farms in Costa Rica
• The key labour issues that remain to be addressed
• An analysis of the key factors found to affect impact, and
• Recommendations on how to improve the impact of codes in the Costa Rican banana industry.

 

 

Detailed contents

• Contents
• Foreword

• 1 Introduction
  • 1.1 Rationale for this case study
  • 1.2 Who was involved in the study?
  • 1.3 Case study value chains
  • 1.4 Selection of suppliers
  • 1.5 Worker sample
  • 1.6 Research methods
  • 1.7 Limitations
• 2 Background on the Costa Rican banana industry
  • 2.1 Size of sector and recent trends
  • 2.2 Type and number of workers
  • 2.3 Other background information
• 3 Key impacts
  • 3.1 Summary of worksite impacts by Base Code principle
  • 3.2 Impacts by Base Code principle
    • 3.2.1 Employment is freely chosen
    • 3.2.2 Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
    • 3.2.3 Working conditions are safe and hygienic
    • 3.2.4 Child labour shall not be used
    • 3.2.5 Living wages are paid
    • 3.2.6 Working hours are not excessive
    • 3.2 7 No discrimination is practised
    • 3.2.8 Regular employment is provided
    • 3.2.9 No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
  • 3.3 Other worksite impacts
  • 3.4 Key issues remaining
    • 3.4.1 Employment is freely chosen
    • 3.4.2 Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
    • 3.4.3 Living wages are paid
    • 3.4.4 Working hours are not excessive
    • 3.4.5 No discrimination is practised
    • 3.4.6 Regular employment is provided
  • 3.5 Impacts by type of worker
    • 3.5.1 Impacts by employment status
    • 3.5.2 Impacts by gender
    • 3.5.3 Impacts by ethnicity
  • 3.6 Wider impacts
    • 3.6.1 Household and community impacts
    • 3.6.2 Poverty impacts
    • 3.6.3 Impacts on employment patterns
    • 3.6.4 Other intended and unintended impacts
• 4 The company's approach to code implementation
  • 4.1 Overview of the company's approach
  • 4.2 Communication and learning
  • 4.3 Monitoring compliance
  • 4.4 Capacity building
  • 4.5 Integration with core business
• 5 Key factors affecting impact
  • 5.1 Key factors related to code management approach
  • 5.2 Key factors related to the value chain
  • 5.3 Other influences on change
• 6 Recommendations
  • 6.1 Recommendations from case study participants
    • 6.1.1 Management approaches to code implementation
    • 6.1.2 Stakeholder engagement
  • 6.2 Recommendations from the Research Team

 

 

Downloads

Download PART 2d (Costa Rica) in PDF format [PDF, 614kb]

Clickable list of all reports in this series.

 

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This series of reports has been prepared by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the views expressed do not necesarily represent the views of ETI or of its member organisations. IDS is responsible for the accuracy of information contained in the document and its recommendations have not necessarily been endorsed by ETI.

© Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, 2006

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See also:

A preliminary response by the Ethical Trading Initiative to IDS’ study (19 October 2006)

ETI Activities: Research projects: Impact assessment

ETI Activities: Experimental projects: Former projects: Costa Rica (bananas)

ETI Events: Conferences: Biennial conference 2005: Workshop - Assessing our impact