Ecuadorian banana workers file EU trade complaint

The Agricultural Workers and Farmers Trade Union Association (ASTAC) in Ecuador, together with European partners ActionAid France, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), ASTM Luxembourg, and Baldon Avocats, has filed a complaint regarding human rights and environmental protections in the banana industry under the European Union (EU)-Ecuador Trade Agreement.

Ecuador is one of the world's largest banana producers and exporters, accounting for about 30% of the global banana market. The EU is its main buyer. In 2017, Ecuador, along with Colombia and Peru, entered into a Trade Agreement with the EU, which included commitments on labour, human rights, and environmental standards outlined in Chapter 9 on trade and sustainable development.

ASTAC and its partners argue that these commitments are not being met. The complaint highlights issues such as low wages, long working hours, limited social protection, weak regulation and enforcement by the state, and pesticide exposure affecting workers. It also points to restrictions on freedom of association, obstacles to collective bargaining, criminalisation of union members, and insufficient application of environmental and labour laws.

Jorge Acosta, founder and coordinator of ASTAC, said: "Workers in the banana industry in Ecuador continue to face very difficult working conditions: low wages, long working hours, lack of social protection... The lack of adequate regulation and supervision by the state has allowed these practices to continue without consequences for employers."

The complaint calls on the European Commission, which is responsible for implementing the trade agreement, to review the situation and ensure compliance with the standards set out in the agreement.