In November 2024, several civil society organizations and unions jointly published an open letter saying workers of the trade union SOC SAT Almeria have informed them that Níjar town council has disconnected two taps and cut the electricity in the settlement of Atochares, Almería, limiting access to water for residents. The taps were originally installed using funds raised by Ethical Consumer in 2020, to improve basic resources in the settlements.

The organizations demand that full access to water is immediately restored, and secure access to electricity is guaranteed. The open letter can be read in full below.

The letter follows a report published by Ethical Consumer in 2023, describing labour rights abuse experienced by agricultural workers in Almería, where farms supply to all major UK supermarkets. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reached out to all nine major supermarkets in the UK to respond to the research at the time; their responses can be read here.

Following the publication of the open letter in 2024, the Resource Centre invited the UK’s largest supermarkets to describe how they ensure workers on farms in Almeria have access to water and electricity; and to outline how they generally monitor living conditions for workers in their supply chains in the region. Responses from Aldi South, Asda, Co-Op, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco, and Waitrose can be read in full below.

In February, Ethical Consumer submitted a rejoinder, saying "it does not appear supermarkets have called on local authorities to restore water access for these workers". The rejoinder says supermarkets should "publicly urge local authorities" to restore water access, and use their leverage with suppliers in the region to ensure they do likewise. Ethical Consumer's rejoinder can be read in full below.

In response to Ethical Consumer's rejoinder, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre received additional disclosure from the British Retail Consortium, Lidl and Tesco. Aldi, ASDA, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Waitrose deferred to the British Retail Consortium's statement. Disclosure from British Retail Consortium, Lidl and Tesco can be read in full below.

In July 2025, Ethical Consumer reported that UK supermarkets could be breaching their United Nations Guiding Principle Commitments after allegedly failing to address the poor living conditions at the informal settlement in Atochares. In April 2025, a team from Ethical Consumer visited the site and found that the taps were still not functioning.

Ethical Consumer contacted all named supermarkets for comment. The British Retail Consortium, on behalf of the supermarkets, said, "the Spanish Ethical Trade Forum...has confirmed that access to water has been restored in the area by the local municipality...".