Recruitment fees, passport retention and contract substitution are the three top abuses in illegal and unethical hiring practices. Recruitment fees are the most common method of control.
When recruitment fees (which often require farmworkers to take on loans from unscrupulous lenders) are present, farmworkers naturally place personal interests above organizational interests in food safety and product quality once they arrive at their places of employment. Concerns for their own safety or the safety of their family, or their ability to pay back their loan are likely to determine an indebted worker’s priorities in their work day to day.
Following food safety and quality assurance practices that require employees to identify and respond to issues that they encounter on the job by bringing a problem up to their supervisor may feel risky to the worker who is focused on achieving the highest possible piece-rate in order to repay a debt.
When workers are ethically recruited and know their rights and the importance of their role in the supply chain, they are better able to engage and align their own priorities with the priorities of the company to deliver a safe, high-quality product to the end buyer.
EFI provides fresh produce companies with guidance for implementing responsible recruitment practices and engaging the entire workforce.
Recruitment fees play a direct role in food safety and quality, because to reach high standards you need your employees directly engaged in their work and to feel the freedom and confidence to draw attention and raise their hand about a potential issue.
If they are focused on their own survival and have a lack of trust in the system, they aren’t able to give the farming operation their full, complete attention.”
– Kenton Harmer, Managing Director for EFI
Grower Perspectives
“No food safety procedure put in place could mitigate risk if the people harvesting and packing it don’t care enough to do their best. EFI helps us engage our workforce at every level so that they understand and have input on the processes that make our food safer.” – Dave Murray, Partner, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce
“As a grower, EFI gives you the ability to be responsible for what we put out to consumers. We assure quality in the safest manner we can to the plates of shoppers. Our investment in our employees means they are happy to do their job. When consumers see the EFI label they know that the product they buy is safe, high in quality and socially responsible.” – Miguel Campos, Grower, Houweling’s Group
“Social responsibility is more than a return on investment—we have had good outcomes. We have the best and most productive associates in the industry. We have associates who are committed to the quality of our product and to our high food safety standards. Having a stable, well-trained workforce makes us a stable company and produces the best-tasting tomatoes.” – Kathryn Ault, previous Vice President of Customer Solutions, NatureSweet
More Information on Responsible Recruitment
Responsible Recruitment Overview
