Woolworths Group and Retail Supply Chain Alliance have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that is set to benefit Australia’s horticulture workers.
The Retail Supply Chain Alliance is comprised of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU); Transport Workers’ Union; and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union (SDA).
Under the agreement, Woolworths and the RSCA will join forces to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of decent work and gender equality across the industry, which pursues not only fair but rewarding work for the nation’s essential horticulture employees.
“Consumers want ethically sourced produce, and farm workers want a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work,” said Dan Walton, National Secretary of AWU.
“This agreement will go a long way to promoting fair and ethical conditions for pickers, packers and other workers in the supply of fruit and vegetables right across Australia,” Walton said.
The new partnership will focus on worker education initiatives and industry engagement, including forums and workshops in key growing regions to enhance awareness of challenges and promote positive outcomes for all workers.
At its core, the MoU’s objectives will focus on the practices of third-party labour-hire companies and increased transparency.
TWU National Secretary Michael Cain said that both Woolworths and the alliance are totally committed to ending all forms of worker exploitation in the retail supply chain.
“Labour-hire providers will be a key focus, as we aim to increase visibility and consistency in the experience of foreign workers, who play an essential role in the nation’s horticulture industry,” Cain said.
“Retail Supply Chain Alliance members want to create a more transparent supply chain, one that champions the welfare of all those who work in it, in partnership with farmers, unions, industry groups and governments,” added Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary at SDA.
“We are committed to a safe, sustainable, ethical, and fair system in which no worker regardless of their employment status, citizenship or visa status needs fear exploitation, wage theft, bullying, sexual harassment, unsafe work, or modern slavery,” Dwyer said.
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For Woolworths Group Chief Sustainability Officer Alex Holt, the agreement marks an important milestone in their mission to partner with every level of the horticulture industry to promote fair conditions for workers.
“Australia’s farmers work hard to feed families across the country and are valued partners in this work to support the experience of pickers, packers and other workers in the supply of fruit and vegetables,” Holt said.
“We know there’s more progress to be made, and under our new partnership with the Alliance we look forward to deepening our engagement with workers, labour hire providers, farmers and legislators to create better experiences for the people who help deliver great Australian produce,” he concluded.
Source: Woolworths