Fairagora Asia, in partnership with Winrock International and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a project to address the issues of human trafficking and debt bondage in Thailand’s sugarcane industry. With a focus on Ethical Labor Sugarcane practices, the project specifically targeted the exploitation of Cambodian migrant workers. Those who are particularly vulnerable to unfair labor practices. The project focused on promoting transparent wage systems, clear employment contracts, and financial literacy training for workers and farm owners.
A root cause analysis conducted early in the project identified several contributing factors to worker vulnerability. These included high migration costs, unstable income, absence of formal work agreements, language barriers, and the spread of misinformation through social media. These findings informed the creation of a Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategy, along with custom training materials designed to raise awareness and promote ethical labor sugarcane practices across the supply chain.
Responsible Consumption and Production: Addressing Economic Barriers
One major challenge, tied to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, was the lack of economic incentives to support ethical labor practices. Many small farm owners and labor contractors wanted to improve conditions but struggled with limited financial resources.
In training sessions, some participants said that adopting contracts and wage transparency added costs without clear financial returns. One farm owner shared, “Even if we want to do better, it’s hard when there’s no extra money or support. It’s not that we don’t care, we just can’t afford to take the risk.”
This reflects a larger issue: without support from markets or policies, responsible production becomes a financial burden for small producers. To address this, Fairagora Asia supports stakeholder engagement and data collection. These efforts helped companies understand labor conditions in their sugarcane supply chains and encouraged more investment in ethical labor sugarcane practices. The data also guides reporting and long-term improvements, aiming to connect ethical goals with the economic realities producers face.
Reduced Inequalities: Strengthening Employer-Employee Relations
The project also advanced SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by improving communication between workers and employers. Awareness workshops gave both groups a chance to talk about labor rights, responsibilities, and the benefits of clear practices. These sessions explained the value of written employment contracts and clear wage terms, topics often misunderstood or ignored.
One key outcome was a template of an employment contract co-created by farm owners and workers. Designed to be adaptable for small-scale farms helped formalize agreements while protecting workers. “Before this, I didn’t fully understand the importance of clear contracts,” one farm owner shared. “But after the workshop, I see that it’s a win-win. Clear agreements help avoid confusion, and the workers feel more secure, too.” This shift represents a tangible move toward ethical labor sugarcane practices in employer-employee relationships.
Partnerships for the Goals: Building Trust Through Collaboration
Partnership with the Friends of Solidarity Workers for Peace Association (WPA) was another success. WPA represents Cambodian workers in Thailand’s sugarcane sector. This partnership supported SDG 17: partnerships for the goals by promoting inclusive dialogue among workers, employers, and advocates. WPA helped overcome language barriers and shared culturally relevant insights. This trust-based relationship was foundational to promoting ethical labor sugarcane practices in a culturally sensitive and sustainable way.
“By working together, we can ensure that workers’ voices are heard, and we can support better conditions for them,” a WPA representative said. This trust-based partnership laid the groundwork for long-term improvements in labor practices.
Through collaboration, research-based strategies, and targeted training, the project made progress toward fair labor in Thailand’s sugarcane industry. It addressed key goals related to responsible production, reducing inequality, and building partnerships, showing both achievements and the work still needed to make supply chains fair and sustainable.
