RISE for Impact: Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the Cotton Supply Chain – A New Phase, A New Vision

Context

Cotton cultivation provides employment and income to some of the poorest rural areas in the world, with ripple effects on female employment. It plays a critical role in international trade, attracting export revenues to developing countries.

However, for a large part, cotton is grown in rural areas where employment relationship is informal and lack worker protection. Poor rural families and migrant workers are vulnerable to forced labour and child labour risks. Cotton is often produced by women workers, but yet they are still paid less than their male counterparts. They are exposed to health hazards (such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, unsuitable tools and insect bites), and lack access to social protection schemes. Labourers are unorganised and lack the power to bargain for fair wages and to advocate for respect for their fundamental rights.

Objectives

The RISE for Impact Project aims to enhance respect for the five fundamental principles and rights at work in the lower tiers of the cotton supply chain by focusing on the following objectives:

• Cotton growing communities are better aware and empowered to assert FPRW.
• Institutions (ILO constituents and other stakeholders) are capacitated to realize FPRW for cotton growing communities in a sustainable manner.
• Global stakeholders have better access to knowledge and tools to promote FPRW in cotton growing communities.

Activities

The project will build on the success of its first phase (2018-2023). It will highlight the links between FPRWs and seek to construct an integrated approach to them.

Its strategy is based on four pillars to RISE for impact:

• Replicate what is successful
• Innovate to fill the gaps
• Scale up geographically, and
• Evaluate and improve effectiveness.

Countries covered

• India
• Pakistan
• Uzbekistan
  
  A global component will support country-level activities with communication and monitoring.

Implementing partners

Governments, State and provincial authorities, labour inspectorates, employers’ and workers’ organizations, private sector, civil society organizations.