Coffee growing regions in the Central Highlands are gradually complying with this regulation so that coffee products meet export standards to international markets.
Currently, the use of child labor in coffee production still exists, especially in ethnic minority areas due to difficult economic conditions, limited awareness of the harmful effects of child labor and the lack of alternative solutions to create livelihoods for local people. This is an important issue affecting the sustainable development of the Vietnamese coffee industry in the context of global economic integration.
Realizing this issue, the business community has begun to make positive moves, especially after the strong impacts of specialized intervention programs. For example, the program "Raising awareness to limit the use of child labor in the coffee industry in Vietnam" implemented by Rainforest Alliance in collaboration with Vinh Hiep Company Limited (Gia Lai province), 2-9 Dak Lak Import-Export Company Limited (Simexco DakLak) and partners, is considered an important "push" in the coffee industry chain.
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| Award scholarships to poor students in the program's project areas. |
Participating in this program, Simexco DakLak and Vinh Hiep Company Limited have pioneered in implementing commitments to build raw material areas without child labor through concrete actions. One of the key activities is to organize training courses on coffee cultivation techniques and livelihood models for farmers, with 1,900 beneficiaries; thereby promoting gender equality, improving learning efficiency for children and job opportunities for adolescents... At the same time, supporting the construction of child protection groups at the village and hamlet level to handle children's problems that may occur locally, such as children dropping out of school, children being abused, violence...
According to Mr. Duong Van Thanh, Head of Sustainable Development Department (Vinh Hiep Company Limited), the company has cooperated with organizations and agents to develop programs to reduce child labor, raise awareness, provide training to improve livelihoods for coffee growers. At the same time, operate a monitoring, reporting system and child protection groups. After nearly 3 years of implementation (April 2022 - December 2024), the program has achieved positive results, contributing to raising community awareness of children's rights, child labor and limiting the occurrence of child labor in the locality.
Mr. Tran Van No (Ea Tan commune, Krong Nang district) said that he had previously participated in many programs on sustainable coffee cultivation, but this was the first time his family had access to the concept of child labor and the limitation of child labor in the coffee industry. Thanks to that, he saw the importance of this issue, so he actively encouraged people to participate in the program to raise awareness to meet the requirements of sustainable coffee development.
Or Mr. Ma Van Nghia, Head of Buon Det village (Ea Tan commune, Krong Nang district) is a member of the village-level child protection team, who has helped detect cases of children in difficult circumstances, dropping out of school, at risk of participating in child labor and connected them with the program to receive vocational training support, contributing to reducing child labor in the community.
Compared to other sectors and countries in the world, in Vietnam, the situation of child labor in agriculture is much lower, with the rate of child labor below 7%. However, this situation still exists and needs to be eliminated.
According to Mr. Do Ngoc Sy, Director of Sustainability Development for Asia - Pacific of JDE Peet's, consumers are increasingly demanding higher standards, including the absence of child labor. When JDE Peet's purchases coffee from Simexco DakLak or Vinh Hiep Company Limited, these companies must commit that the coffee beans are produced without the use of child labor. This not only helps businesses enhance their reputation and brand value, but also contributes to building a sustainable and responsible Vietnamese coffee industry.
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| Children in the project area with difficult family circumstances are given bicycles. |
However, the challenge of reducing child labor in the coffee industry is still to raise awareness to reduce child labor, especially when the coffee industry often faces seasonal labor shortages. Furthermore, the lack of specific support mechanisms to replicate the program is also a barrier.
Deputy General Director of Simexco DakLak Nguyen Tien Dung stated that Vietnam not only has delicious coffee but also proves to the world its ability to meet regulations and standards in coffee production, helping people change their mindset and become more responsible for the environment, the community and children in the family. However, to achieve the goal sustainably, stronger cooperation from many sides is needed.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thiet, Country Director of Rainforest Alliance Vietnam, said that local authorities at all levels need to effectively implement existing policies on supporting awareness raising and poverty reduction, especially in ethnic minority areas with limited land areas. For monoculture coffee growing areas, it is advisable to switch to agroforestry models to diversify income. Households with coffee growing areas of less than 1 hectare should research and develop new industries such as livestock farming and services to avoid dependence on coffee and seasonal labor. Companies participating in certification should establish an A&A system to manage child labor and domestic violence.
| After nearly 3 years of implementation (April 2022 - December 2024), the Program "Raising awareness to limit child labor in the coffee industry in Vietnam" has established 34 children's clubs, with 519 children participating; supported vocational training for 45 children (from 14 to 18 years old); donated 400 sets of textbooks, established 2 mobile libraries; summer tutoring for 324 children; established 37 child rights protection groups, with 154 members participating... |
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202506/noi-khong-voi-lao-dong-tre-em-trong-nganh-hang-ca-phe-can-cu-hich-ve-nhan-thuc-c790aec/
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