Companies were reported in Germany for allegedly purchasing products from Brazilian farms associated with human rights violations. Both deny the accusations.
Nestlé and AmRest, which manages Starbucks, were denounced in Germany for buying Brazilian coffee allegedly linked to work with links to slavery, child labor and human trafficking. Human rights violations have also been reported in China, Mexico and Uganda.
The complaints were presented last Wednesday to the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bafa, in its German acronym), under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. This standard, in force since 2023, holds large companies responsible for human rights violations and environmental damage in their supply chains.
“Our reports reveal serious human rights violations in global coffee supply chains. On plantations that supply Nestlé, Starbucks, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe and other companies, there are children working, people being harassed and deprived of their rights”, Etelle Higonnet, director of Coffee Watch, one of the organizations responsible for the complaints, told DW.
“We believe that the problems are extremely serious, systematic and widespread. The German authorities must act to ensure that the companies in question finally assume their responsibility”, added Higonnet.
In addition to Coffee Watch, complaints were filed by other non-governmental organizations, such as International Rights Advocates.
To DW, both Nestlé and Starbucks denied the accusations.
‘Craft’ in German law to hold companies accountable
The revelations are based on investigations conducted by the authors, the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT), Repórter Brasil and other entities defending human rights. The case also resulted in lawsuits in the United States.
In April, Coffee Watch filed a complaint with the United States Customs and Border Protection, asking for the suspension of imports of Brazilian coffee by multinationals Starbucks, Nestlé, Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), Dunkin’, Illy and McDonald’sfor alleged connection to work similar to slavery.
Also in April, International Rights Advocates filed a lawsuit against Starbucks in North Carolina, demanding compensation of one billion reais (around 180 million euros) for eight workers rescued from agricultural holdings in Minas Gerais, in conditions similar to slavery. These properties would be part of the companies’ supply chain.
According to Higonnet, from Coffee Watch, It is difficult to bring legal action in many coffee-consuming countries. Therefore, they saw the German Supply Chain Law as an opportunity to hold companies accountable.
The law requires companies to provide public and accessible reporting channels. Thus, after a complaint, companies can respond and eventually correct possible violations.
If these channels do not exist or if there is no response, those affected can contact Bafa so that the authorities can take action.
The responses sent by Nestlé and AmRest (Starbucks) were considered insufficient by Coffee Watch — hence the formal request presented last Wednesday.
According to the organizations, Nestlé and AmRest (Starbucks) would buy coffee from the cooperative Cooxupéin Guaxupé. Nestlé would also purchase products from Cooabriel, in São Gabriel da Palha, Espírito Santo. Human rights violations, such as slavery-like work, child labor and human trafficking, allegedly occurred on farms that supply coffee to these two cooperatives.
A specific case of a 16 year old teenager
One of the reported cases occurred in 2024, when a 16-year-old teenager was rescued by the MPT and the Federal Police on an agricultural farm in the south of Minas Gerais. Resident of a quilombola community, he was allegedly lured by a “gato” — name given to intermediaries who recruit workers.
According to the organizations, the young man was attracted by promises of good working conditions and fair pay. However, he ended up facing degrading conditions: working hours of 11 to 12 hours a day, without rest, without protective equipment, without access to drinking water or sanitary facilities.
An MPT report obtained by the organizations classified the case as slave labor and one of the worst forms of child labor. The document highlighted that the teenager worked barefoot and in conditions inappropriate for his age. The farm would supply coffee to Cooxupé.
Another case is linked to Cooabriel. In 2023, ten workers were rescued from an agricultural farm in Vila Pavão (ES), after being subjected to exhausting working hours, wages below the minimum wage, precarious housing and armed surveillance to prevent escapes.
What the accused say
In response to DW, Nestlé said it took the allegations seriously and investigated the allegations.
“We confirmed that Nestlé there was no direct connection with the farms in question or who has already terminated the relationship with a supplier due to non-compliance with our standards.”
According to the company, Nestlé has strict processes to prevent human rights violations. “When we become aware of concerns related to our supply chain, we conduct appropriate investigations and work with our direct suppliers to take swift action when necessary — including terminating the business relationship when our standards are not met.”
Starbucks also stated that it is committed to workers’ rights. He explained that his work is based on the CAFE Practices verification program, developed with external experts and which includes independent audits.
“We do not buy coffee from all the farms belonging to the Cooxupé cooperative, which brings together more than 19 thousand producers. Starbucks only purchases coffee from a small fraction of these farms — and only those that have been verified through our CAFE Practices program, one of the most rigorous in the sector and which has been continually improved since its creation in 2004.”
In response to DW, Cooxupé stated that it “vehemently repudiates any practice analogous to slavery or that violates fundamental rights in its value chain”. He also said that, whenever he becomes aware of irregular work situations on the part of members, he adopts measures such as suspending the supply or returning the coffee.
“There have already been specific cases in which these measures were applied preventively. However, these situations represent less than 0.1% of the universe of more than 21 thousand cooperative properties, mostly family-owned, that operate in accordance with the legislation.”
