SafeHabitus Policy Workshop | Ethical trade market mechanisms to promote health and safety in agriculture

Through this latest SafeHabitus policy workshop, we will debate and share perspectives among stakeholders and policymakers directly involved in ethical trade market mechanisms and their impact on occupational safety and health (OSH) and decent working conditions in the EU agriculture sector and beyond. We will draw on selected European and international examples and provide agriculture and occupational health and safety stakeholders with the opportunity to exchange knowledge and perspectives on how working conditions in farming can be improved for all farmers and farm workers.

The seminar will include key speakers from EU and international organisations, social partners and agricultural organisations and organisations involved in the evaluation and certification of ethical market mechanisms. The seminar will provide: an overview of existing mechanisms and how they integrate OSH and decent work into agriculture; an expert debate on each of the systems; and a policy round table on the changes necessary to enhance and extend such systems across the sector. During the Policy Webinar, EU-OSHA will present the findings of its study on Supply chains’ role in promoting safety and health in agriculture: the LIFT-OSH Project. SafeHabitus will also present its forthcoming report on corporate social responsibility (CSR) market mechanisms for improving decent work in EU agriculture. The report will analyse how corporate social responsibility (CSR) measures and human rights due diligence led by large retailers affect labour conditions across two strawberry supply chains: Morocco→United Kingdom and Huelva (Spain)→Germany.

It will examine the design and implementation of these mechanisms and how they impact directly or indirectly on the workers through purchasing/procurement, importation, intermediation, verification/certification, supply and production, with a specific focus on labour rights and on preventing risks affecting migrant and seasonal workers.