Germany: Supermarkets respond to report alleging widespread labour abuse & exploitation in South African orange farms
In July 2021, “Bitter Oranges – An Unjust Citrus Supply Chain”, a report by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung and the Khanyisa Educational Development Trust, alleged widespread labour rights abuses, including concerns over workers' health and safety, and freedom of association, on farms producing Navel oranges in South Africa. The report named numerous German supermarkets as selling South African oranges, raising concerns of potential human rights violations in the supermarkets' citrus supply chains.
In September 2021, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Rewe, Lidl, Edeka, Netto, Selgros, and Aldi (Nord and Süd) to provide information on the steps taken to ensure that their supply chains are free from exploitation and abuse. Lidl, Selgros, and Aldi (Nord and Süd) responded. Edeka, Rewe, and Netto did not.
All response statements are available below.