The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are clear that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights throughout their supply chains. Yet, as the strike by thousands of tea workers in Assam last month demonstrated, many are being denied their right to a decent livelihood. So, what can buyers and retailers do? NGOs are calling on them to take three clear steps:
- Insist that the Assam Wage Commission implements the minimum cash wage of INR 351.33/day that it recommended for tea workers in 2018
- Support Indian producers in bridging the gap between current wages and INR 351.33/day through fair price negotiation
- Review their purchasing practices to enable tea producers to bridge the gap with living wages everywhere
NGOs, trade unions, civil society organisations, campaigners and citizens everywhere – you can help by sharing this message on social media, writing to your supermarket and favourite tea brand and asking them to support the call for a wage increase for Assam tea workers.
Photo: Dheerajdeka11 Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 4.0
