Updates, blog posts and events from THIRST

THIRST brings you a range of news, analysis and events to help you keep track of human rights and environmental developments in the tea industry around the world. These include announcements of new publications and events such as discussions on topical issues, monthly news updates and thought provoking blogs. We welcome news, guest blogs and suggestions of topics for future TEA Talks from all sections of the tea sector – but especially civil society.

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Blog post

Tea producers: tell us your side of the story

For almost two centuries, since the inception of the tea industry, criticism for low pay and poor living and working conditions for tea workers has been directed primarily at owners […]
Monthly update

THIRST News Update – November 2022

Highlights: Tea industry under widespread strain; women tea workers can – and do – break cultural stereotypes; new resources on THIRST Knowledge Hub; invitation to take part in tea producer […]
Monthly update

THIRST News Update – October 2022

Highlights: Kenyans sue UK government for land theft, abuses; human rights abuses persist across tea origins; climate crisis and fluctuating prices drive tea farmers to alternative income sources; wage struggles […]
Monthly update

THIRST News Update – September 2022

Highlights: Bangladeshi tea workers win half demanded wage rate; smallholders demand better prices; health and safety legal action by Finlays workers resumes; five die in climate-related accidents. Image: Tea workers […]
Monthly update

THIRST News Update – August 2022

Highlights: Financial crises prompt innovation & alternative use of tea land; gov’s recognise deprivation of tea workers; small tea growers struggle in Kerala, thrive in Kenya; inflation erodes wage rises, […]
Blog post

UPDATE: Human Rights Impact Assessment of the Tea Sector

THIRST is conducting a human rights impact assessment of the tea sector. Working with civil society and industry across the world, it is exploring how the human rights of women […]
Monthly update

THIRST News Update – July 2022

Highlights: Oxfam chief challenges tea industry purchasing policies; ILO landmark decision – health & safety is fundamental right; human/animal conflict on the rise in tea areas; THIRST full literature review […]
Blog post
Monthly update

Tea prices are too low! …and other roundtable insights

On 31 May 2022 a group of close to 50 tea sector stakeholders took part in a virtual roundtable to reflect on the findings of THIRST’s literature review, Human Rights […]
Monthly update

THIRST News Update – May & June 2022

Highlights: Ukraine war impacts tea exports. Severe hailstorms, rain & temperature rises hit Kenyan and Indian tea; new climate-adapted tea varieties &  tech solutions in development. Sri Lanka economic crisis […]
Blog post

Human Rights in the Tea Sector – The Big Picture: Literature Review

THIRST’s new report – drawing on over 200 authoritative references – finds that despite a plethora of human rights standards, policies and conventions, and a thriving industry, breaches of the […]
Event

Roundtable on Human Rights in the Tea Sector – The Big Picture. May 31st

THIRST’s Literature Review report on human rights across the global tea industry will be published in mid-May. This roundtable is an opportunity to discuss the findings with multiple tea industry […]
Monthly update

THIRST News Update – April 2022

Highlights: Women battle sexual abuse & discrimination across tea sector; mechanisation & land sales threaten workers homes, jobs; smallholder cooperatives recieve boost; innovations in carbon transparency and zero-cost tea production. […]