New two-year initiative targets Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, aiming to improve recruitment practices and worker protections for millions dependent on coffee production

Nestlé and the International Labour Organization have announced the expansion of their long-standing partnership with the launch of a new two-year global initiative aimed at advancing labour rights in coffee supply chains. The project, titled “From fair recruitment to worker protection in coffee supply chains,” will focus on three of the world’s most important coffee-producing countries—Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico—where millions of workers depend on the sector for their livelihoods.

The initiative reflects growing pressure on multinational corporations to address labour conditions deep within their agricultural sourcing networks. Coffee production supports an estimated 20 to 25 million families globally, yet systemic challenges—including informal employment, seasonal labour vulnerabilities, and migrant worker risks—continue to undermine working conditions. Through this collaboration, the ILO will leverage its convening power to facilitate dialogue between governments, employers, and worker organizations, identifying structural gaps and implementing targeted interventions at the country level.

At the core of the program is a focus on fair recruitment practices and the promotion of decent work standards, areas that remain critical pain points in agricultural supply chains. The project is designed not only to deliver localized improvements in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico but also to generate scalable insights that can be applied across global coffee markets. By linking country-level action with broader knowledge-sharing, the initiative aims to create a ripple effect across the industry.

Dan Rees, Director of the ILO’s Priority Action Programme on Decent Work in Supply Chains, emphasized the economic and social importance of the sector, noting that while coffee remains a vital source of income worldwide, labour deficits persist, particularly among vulnerable worker groups. The initiative, he said, seeks to address these gaps while contributing to more sustainable and equitable supply chains.

From a corporate perspective, Nestlé framed the partnership as part of its broader push to embed human rights into sourcing strategies. Antje Shaw, Head of Sustainability for Coffee at Nestlé, highlighted that collaboration with the ILO enables faster progress toward building resilient and inclusive value chains where workers are treated with dignity, aligning with rising investor and consumer expectations around ethical sourcing.

The project is backed by Nestlé’s Nescafé Plan, the company’s flagship sustainability program for its coffee brand, and aligns with several ILO-led global frameworks, including the Fair Recruitment Initiative and the Safety + Health for All programme, particularly its Vision Zero Fund. These platforms aim to promote safe working environments and eliminate exploitative recruitment practices across supply chains.

Nestlé’s involvement also builds on its role as a founding member of the Child Labour Platform, an ILO-convened coalition focused on addressing child labour in global supply chains. The expanded partnership underscores a broader shift within the agribusiness sector, where sustainability strategies are increasingly intertwined with labour rights, regulatory compliance, and long-term supply resilience.

As scrutiny intensifies on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, the Nestlé–ILO collaboration signals a growing recognition that improving labour conditions is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity for securing the future of global commodity supply chains.