Princes Group, a leading player in the food and beverage industry, has expanded its migrant worker scheme to support victims of modern slavery. Through a partnership with Casa Sankara, a non-profit organization, Princes has hired and trained 32 migrant workers living in vulnerable conditions to work at its tomato processing facility in Foggia, Italy during the 2023 harvest season.
This collaboration is an integral part of Princes Group’s ongoing efforts to promote ethical working conditions in the Italian tomato supply chain. In Italy, migrant workers often face exploitation practices driven by illegal intermediaries known as Caporale. These practices violate minimum wage requirements and impose inhumane working conditions.
Casa Sankara, operated by migrant workers who have experienced exploitation themselves, provides an alternative to individuals living in ghettos by offering accommodation, basic services, administrative support, and regular work opportunities. The partnership with Casa Sankara marks an expansion of Princes Group’s migrant worker scheme, Lavoro Senza Frontiere, which was established in 2018 with local charity Caritas.
David McDiarmid, Corporate Relations Director at Princes, emphasizes the company’s commitment to advancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability. By creating decent employment opportunities and offering fair pay, Princes aims to address the long-standing issues of illegal labor and exploitation practices in the sector.
Mbaye Ndiaye, a representative from Casa Sankara, believes that this partnership with Princes is a significant step towards positive change for young migrant workers who have been exploited in the past. It provides them with an opportunity to follow their interests and abilities while achieving personal fulfillment.
Oxfam Italia, which collaborates with Princes in monitoring and evaluating its ethical and human rights initiatives, recently presented the results of a survey conducted during the 2022 harvest season. The survey revealed that 100% of workers in Princes Group’s tomato supply chain have written contracts and found work legally, without the involvement of intermediaries. Over 90% of workers expressed satisfaction with their pay, which covers essential expenses for themselves and their families.
To combat labor abuses in its supply chain, Princes has implemented various initiatives. It is utilizing blockchain technology to enhance traceability and communicate its sourcing story to customers and consumers. Additionally, the company has ensured that tomatoes processed from its Italian supply chain come from farms with independent ethical accreditation. Princes has also organized ethical forums for suppliers in Italy and signed pre-harvest tomato supply contracts to guarantee fair pricing and financial stability for the producers.
In line with its commitment to human rights due diligence and supply chain transparency, Princes recently conducted a Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) into pulses from Argentina, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the industry.
By expanding its migrant worker scheme and implementing ethical practices, Princes Group is driving positive change in the food and beverage industry, while creating concrete benefits for local communities.
