Bonsucro: Opportunity or Challenge in the Pursuit of Improved Labor Rights?

Critics argue that Bonsucro's current certification processes fall short of guaranteeing labor rights, primarily due to the exclusion of workers' voices in the auditing and decision-making processes. This has sparked an intense internal debate among Bonsucro members about the organization’s future direction.

While large companies and sugar mills have shown some support for these initiatives, concerns remain about Bonsucro's capacity to address systemic issues. Some members believe that labor rights violations cannot be eradicated through stricter certification processes alone; broader structural changes within supply chains are needed—changes that go beyond Bonsucro’s direct influence.

At CNV Internationaal, we recognize that the sugar sector still has a long way to go in improving labor rights and human rights. We believe that multi-stakeholder organizations like Bonsucro can play a decisive role in this journey. 

Central to this effort is the need for social dialogue, involving workers and their unions, to address these human rights challenges. 

A critical point in this discussion is the precarious wage conditions for workers. Our Fair Work Monitor has revealed alarming wage gaps in the sugar industry. Far too many workers earn less than a living wage, and some even less than the legal minimum—an illegal and unacceptable situation. This issue must be brought to the forefront to design collective interventions aimed at ensuring a living wage for all workers.

Our commitment is clear: cooperation to improve working conditions could open up new opportunities for progress.

We have proposed increased union involvement in monitoring working conditions. In the face of audit and grievance mechanisms that often fail to identify and resolve vulnerabilities, the Fair Labor Observatory's Digital Monitoring offers a powerful tool to identify needs, gaps, and areas for improvement, directly from the workers themselves.

These initiatives, potentially part of a Human Rights Taskforce, would involve companies investing in tangible improvements, engaging local experts, and promoting social dialogue to achieve real and sustainable change. This approach can test methodologies that could benefit the entire sector.

The path to significant improvements in labor rights within the sugar industry is complex and fraught with challenges. However, there is a growing consensus among stakeholders that Bonsucro has a unique opportunity to lead this change. 

By fostering collaboration between companies, trade unions , and NGOs, constructive dialogue can help overcome current tensions and pave the way for a fairer and more sustainable future for the entire sugarcane production chain, with a strong focus on workers’ rights.