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Article

4 May 2023

Tesco's response to allegations of abuses in its tea supply chain

[...]

We’ve reviewed the reports you’ve shared with us and can confirm that between January and December 2022, we sourced from the following four tea plantation companies.

  • Talawakelle Plantations linked to Holyrood tea estate
  • Maskeliya Plantation linked to Glenugie, Moray and Laxapana tea estate
  • Horana Plantations linked to Gouravilla tea estate
  • Bogawantalawa Plantation linked to Bridwell tea estate

We are working with our supplier to investigate the allegations and will move to suspend the tea estates if we don’t get satisfactory engagement.

Last year we developed and published a new tea sourcing policy with strong requirements to ensure workers’ rights are protected throughout our supply chains...working with suppliers to build more inclusive workplaces and partnering with The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) to advance worker’s rights in tea supply chains.

In relation to freedom of association for tea workers...we do not tolerate threats, intimidation, physical or legal attacks on human rights defenders in relation to our operations. We also expect our suppliers to comply with all legal requirements including the payment of legislated wages...

All of our manufacturers and suppliers globally must comply with our Code of Business Conduct and Group Human Rights Policy...We are members of ETP and the Global Tea Coalition working groups on economics and equality....

Part of the following timelines

Sri Lanka: Twenty major plantation companies challenge wage raise for tea workers; incl. buyer responses

Sri Lanka: Workers dismissed for protesting introduction of "unfair" new targets and wage system; incl. co. responses

India: Tea workers undertake protests - including hunger strike - over non-payment of wages and entitlements; incl. co. responses

Sri Lanka: Tea workers protest wage cuts for workers who fail to meet 'unrealistic', increased work targets; incl. co. responses

India: Around 7000 tea workers across ten estates strike over unpaid wages; incl. co. responses

India: Tea workers protest non-payment of salaries; incl. co. responses

Company responses and non-response to allegations of human rights abuses in tea supply chains

Company responses and non-response to allegations of human rights abuses in tea supply chains