IUF and TESCO signed a new global agreement to strengthen workers’ rights in food supply chains

The IUF with its affiliate USDAW, the union representing workers in the largest UK supermarkets chain TESCO, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TESCO.

It establishes a collaborative framework to promote and protect workers' rights across TESCO's global food supply chains, with a focus on gender equality. The MoU contributes to the implementation of human rights due diligence initiatives as it reflects a shared commitment to responsible business conduct, with TESCO committing to engage its suppliers on improving labour conditions and meaningful social dialogue.

The MoU is aligned with international labour standards, in particular advancing the freedom of association and collective bargaining, promoting safe and healthy workplaces, and focus on reducing the vulnerability faced by women workers and strengthening women's representation at work. This MoU renews the joint commitments set out in a first agreement signed in 2022 and is based on the experiences learnt from its implementation.

The MoU includes a clear incident reporting process. "IUF affiliates are encouraged to actively use this complaint mechanism to raise cases of labour rights violations by employers producing agricultural crops or food and drink products supplied to TESCO," said Kristjan Bragason, IUF Acting General Secretary.