Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices
The history of ECIP begins long before its official launch in 2023. Following the 2014 Los Angeles Times “Product of Mexico” series on labor abuses in the agroexport sector, the Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association (now International Fresh Produce Association) formed a joint committee to create the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. Published in 2018, the Charter outlines 13 principles to guide the management of agricultural labor, covering areas such as legal compliance, professional conduct and human rights:
Respect for
Laws at Work
- Legal Compliance
- Occupational Safety & Health
- Wages & Benefits
- Working Hours
Respect for Human
Rights
- Employment is Freely Chosen
- Freedom of Association; Humane Treatment and Non-Harassment
- Non-Discrimination
- Protection of Children and Young Workers
Respect for Professional Conduct
- Communication and Worker Protections
- Ethical Recruitment
- Responsible Purchasing Practices
- Management Systems
- Continuous Improvement
While these principles established a strong and common foundation for the industry, the Ethical Charter lacked a mechanism for enforcement or verification, leaving buyers without a tool to determine which of their suppliers and growers are upholding the principles in the Ethical Charter. Four retailers therefore worked together to pilot and test several approaches to an Ethical Charter program, invited a group of 20 suppliers to collaborate, then officially launched ECIP in November 2023.
Questions? Reach out to the ECIP team: