Our Work in Peru

Continuing Support to SITAG

We continue to support our Peruvian partner SITAG to organise workers in this growing sector, along with support to Sindicato De Trabajadores Empresa Talsa (SITETSA) in the face of criminal charges from the company against them.

An Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Working Group involving three major retailers and trade unions is starting a process of identifying more progressive employers who are prepared to work with trade unions in order to demonstrate to others in the sector that decent industrial relations and good working conditions are not only what buyers want, but will also not bankrupt the sector.

A Ground-Breaking Agreement Between the Union and Small Farmer Associations

The signing in August 2016 of a framework agreement on trade union rights and sectoral dialogue by seven banana producers’ associations and the main trade union in the sector, SITAG, is a major step forward for the producers and the workers and provides the basis for a fair sharing of the wealth created by the organic banana export industry in what was a very poor province of the country. It is also hoped that, through the trust-building process that the agreement seeks to promote, producers and workers will sit down and negotiate collective contractual arrangements to the benefit of both parties.

• After many months of consultations with workers, SITAG presented a proposed industry-wide collective bargaining agreement to a group of small farmers’ associations in 2017.
• SITAG has been able to secure check-off for union fees in four associations. Some employers are still resisting and not handing over what has been deducted from workers’ pay packets.
• SITAG has also been able to establish three new joint Health & Safety Committees in the banana associations where it has strong membership; this is facilitated by new government legislation which gives these committees a strong regulatory framework.