Decent Work

OCA has worked since its inception to improve the livelihoods of organic cotton farmers by ensuring higher prices and better market opportunities. Supporting over 100,000 smallholder farmers, OCA's partnerships with global brands have boosted incomes and improved farming practices. Over the next seven years, we will use our presence on the field to improve incomes and empower farmers in our Farm Programme to access their rights and decent working conditions.

OCA will work with partners to ensure timely payments, improve financial literacy, and close the gap between actual earnings and the proposed living incomes and wages in each region where we operate. Higher net incomes for farmers and premium payments are central to OCA’s 2030 strategy. Lasting improvements require that farmers have the skills, resources, and support to make necessary changes for themselves and those who depend on them.

Farmers participating in the OCA Farm Programme must provide proof of age for any young worker on their farms and commit to not to unlawfully employing children or adolescents in hazardous work or restricting their basic rights to education, in accordance with local laws. OCA’s policies and practices will adhere to local legal definitions concerning children and adolescents. Beyond its commitment to protecting children from hazardous labour, OCA is committed to collaborating with local agencies to ensure children have access to education.

Forced or bonded labour will not be tolerated in farms participating in the OCA Farm Programme. OCA will require farmers to recognise that non-voluntary overtime work (amounting to more than eight hours of regular work) is a form of forced labour and to ensure that no workers are compelled to work extra hours.

OCA will prioritise making early, concrete improvements to address basic physical needs. Common challenges include occupational health and safety, as well as access to essential amenities like water, sanitation, rest areas, and shade. OCA will support farmers in improving occupational health and safety measures for all workers, including family members, hired and migrant workers, with a focus on emergency provisions.

OCA will collaborate with partners and farmers to end discriminatory practices, with a focus on gender equality. Women often face discrimination in access to health and hygiene facilities, including water, sanitation, and rest areas. OCA will also focus on the gender pay gap by ensuring equal pay for equal work and increasing women’s access to training and financial literacy. Where needed, other forms of discrimination, such as those based on origin, age, or family background, will also be tackled.

OCA will progressively improve the access to social protections for farmers, farm workers, and their families, as mandated by local laws. In collaboration with Implementing Partners, OCA will identify opportunities such as crop insurance to ensure social protection coverage.

OCA will investigate and take appropriate corrective action when issues are raised by farmers or through its partners and third-party validators. Through training and monitoring, OCA and its Implementing Partners will ensure that farmers and farm workers are aware of and able to access government or civil society grievance channels without fear of reprisal.