Skip to main content
Home

User Menu

  • Log in

Main menu

  • Home
  • About ETI
    • Our members
    • What we do
    • Why we exist
      • ETI's origins
    • Our impact for workers
    • Accountability
    • Funding
    • Our strategy
    • Our team
      • ETI Board members
    • Contact
  • ETI Base Code
    • 1. Employment is freely chosen
    • 2. Freedom of association
    • 3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic
    • 4. Child labour shall not be used
    • 5. Living wages are paid
    • 6. Working hours are not excessive
    • 7. No discrimination is practiced
    • 8. Regular employment is provided
    • 9. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
  • Programmes
  • Join ETI
  • Training
    • All courses
    • Human rights essentials
    • E-learning module: Access to remedy principles
    • Bespoke training
  • Resources
    • Case studies
    • Useful links
  • Issues
    • Gender equity
      • Violence and harrassment
      • Gender data initiative
      • Gender equality - international standards
      • Gender equality - resources
    • Homeworkers
    • COVID-19
    • Grievance mechanisms & remedy
    • Union rights at work
    • Due diligence
      • ETI’s work on human rights due diligence
        • ETI’s work in Pakistan
        • Pakistan, labour rights resources
      • Resources on human rights due diligence
    • Company purchasing practices
      • Working conditions in the Leicester garment industry
    • A living wage for workers
      • Living wage initiatives
      • Living wage resources
      • Living wage standards
      • Wages and purchasing theories
    • Modern slavery
      • Modern slavery and transparency standards
      • Modern slavery initiatives
      • Modern slavery resources
      • Modern slavery evaluation framework
    • Public procurement & responsible business
    • Migrant workers
    • Business and human rights in India
    • Child labour
    • HIV at work
    • Ethical trade and fairtrade
  • Blog
  • Events

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. blog

ETI: members should commit to “active advocacy” to end migrant labour abuse, or cease sourcing from worst affected areas

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Lindsay Wright
  • 12 May 2020
Farmers sorting Tomatoes. Ethiopia World Bank Pic

ETI has called for members sourcing from areas where there are well known issues with the mistreatment of migrant workers to either work in partnership with country governments and civil society in “active advocacy”, or cease sourcing from affected areas.

The call comes after an article in Open Democracy revealed extensive abuse of Romanian and African migrant workers in the agricultural sector, including in the Ragusa region of Sicily, a supplier to a number of well-known UK and European food retailers. The article also revealed the use of “ghettoes” for Sub-Saharan African migrant workers trapped in the country and unable to return home due to restrictions on their movements due to Covid-19. 

Nick Kightley, ETI Strategic Lead, Food and Farming, comments: “When it comes to the treatment of migrant workers in Italy, some sourcing companies have been too silent for too long and some have turned a blind eye to widespread exploitation and wage levels below the law. 

“The need for legal reforms to give migrant workers equal rights is a huge issue not just in Italy but in many Mediterranean countries. Exploitation feeds off informality, and while the Italian government has to take the lead in protecting and supporting migrant workers, especially the most vulnerable, including women, companies could and should be joining NGOs and trade unions to call for reform, or cease sourcing from areas where the abuse of migrant labour is rife.

“Companies which take the decision to move towards active advocacy will not only support workers, but reap the benefits in terms of better functioning supply chains and lower risks to their business operations.

"ETI is calling for active corporate advocacy as a minimum requirement for continuing to trade in areas where the abuse of migrant labourers is a known, and severe issue, and for its members to commit to working alongside the NGOs and trade unions working towards achieving equal rights for migrant workers in Italy and the Mediterranean. 

"ETI is able to facilitate advocacy by business, and support member companies to move to an active role in advocating for government action, including in situations where migrant workers may not have been laid off, but are found to be working in miserable conditions, with no rights." 

ETI has published a briefing note on the responsibilities of employers towards migrant workers during the Covid-19 crisis. Read it here. 

ETI's blog covers issues at the intersection of business and human rights. We feature posts by, for and from our members and allies; we do not accept or offer payment for posts or publish content outside of these criteria. We welcome a range of insights and opinions from our guest bloggers, though don't necessarily agree with everything they say.

Stay up to date

Stay up to date with the latest from ETI via the following channels:
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Blog RSS

Related content

  • Stories from beneficiaries in East African agriculture supply chains
  • MSIs call for international action to protect Myanmar’s half a million garment workers
  • Myanmar MSI Public Statement
  • A new vision for the garment industry. What next?
  • Nick Kightley on the sentencing, after a 6 year campaign, of a Taiwanese boat captain for the murder of 4 workers
  • ETI joins call for rethink by PM on aid cuts

Get the latest

Subscribe to our email newsletters and stay up to speed on ethical trade.
Subscribe

ETI elsewhere

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer

  • ETI Community
  • Accessibility
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Jobs at ETI
  • Press resources
  • Privacy
  • Modern slavery statement
Other ETIs: Denmark, Norway, Sweden
Ethical Trading Initiative | Registered No. 3578127