Workers and their union, the Barry Callebaut Employees Union (BCEU), continue their peaceful protest as Barry Callebaut management in Baramati, India fails to respect human rights, including the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining ...

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Workers are being pressured by Barry Callebaut Baramati management to join the BCKS yellow union. Threats by Barry Callebaut management to date, including that the Baramati chocolate factory will be closed, and/or that workers will have their employment terminated if they do not join the BCKS yellow union, are in violation of workers’ fundamental human rights.

ILO Conventions 87 and 98 explicitly prohibit yellow unions and the establishment of workers’ organizations under any form of control by an employer....

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Despite continued pressure from management and local police officers, BCEU is determined to continue this struggle for their union rights. As a part of this struggle, BCEU has condemned the rights violations at the Baramati chocolate factory, and its members have been working without food and breaks for more than 75 days.

The IUF, its affiliated unions with membership in Barry Callebaut, and Barry Callebaut’s European Works Council have raised the rights violations with Barry Callebaut management.

IUF General Secretary Sue Longley stated, “On February 6, 2023, the IUF wrote to Barry Callebaut AG’s then CEO Peter Boone as a good faith first step to raise the rights violations with the company. However, to date Barry Callebaut has refused to engage in discussions with the IUF to resolve them. We remain open to discussions, but the company needs to show real willingness to recognize the problem and to engage to resolve it.”