ETI Report

Inspecting labour practice in the wine industry of the Western Cape, South Africa 1998-2001

Inspecting labour conditions in supply chains that span the globe is a major intellectual, practical and often political challenge for all companies wishing to adopt ethical trade principles. How can companies based in the UK monitor what actually happens to workers, unearth hidden labour problems, such as discrimination against women workers, and take action to correct breaches labour code provisions?

ETI set up the South Africa wine project to identify inspection methodologies that were robust enough to uncover the truth about working life on farms and wineries that supply three major UK retailers. This experimental three-year project involved stakeholders from the wine industry, trade unions, non-govern- mental organisations (NGOs), and the South African government and demonstrates that collective thinking and action can be a powerful force for change. Its lessons apply not just to the South African wine industry but also to other countries and sectors where labour conditions are a concern.

This frank account of the challenges, successes and failures of the project provides a valuable working tool for companies, trade unions, NGOs and governments involved in improving labour conditions across the globe. It will also interest academics and policy makers in the fields of labour relations, international trade, corporate social responsibility and others in the field.