‘Ethical’ tea farms accused of abusing their workers

‘Threats of violence’

‘ETHICAL’ teas and chocolate bars sold as ‘Fairtrade’ or ‘Rainforest Alliance Certified’ are often produced using forced labour, researchers say.

Shoppers are being cheated by such labels, which supposedly ensure decent conditions for workers, says a report.

Tetley, one of the biggest tea producers, markets its teas as Rainforest Alliance Certified, while Twinings sells products as ETP – certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership.

But the study, led by Sheffield University, found workers in India and Ghana were just as likely to be exploited on ‘ethically certified’ tea and cocoa plantations. Workers suffered verbal abuse and were threatened with sexual and physical violence, according to in-depth interviews of 120 workers and a survey of 1,000 others.

Indian tea workers’ pay was as low as 25 per cent of the poverty-line amount while 40 per cent had had unfair wage deductions, the study found.

The authors said ethical certification schemes were easy to cheat as inspectors would visit just once a year. Fairtrade, the Rainforest Alliance and the ETP said they would address any complaints of abuse.

Tata Global Beverages, which owns Tetley, and Associated British Foods, which owns Twinings, said the schemes were just one part of their efforts to treat its Indian workers fairly.