Tell UK Supermarkets: Restore water for farm workers in Spain

Imagine picking fruit and vegetables all day in the intense Mediterranean heat and having no access to drinking water.

That’s the reality for many farm workers in Nijar, southern Spain, picking tomatoes, peppers, and more for UK and European supermarkets.

Exploitation is rife. These workers often live in cramped, makeshift settlements, and to make matters worse, the local water company and mayor have cut off their water supply (a claim they deny).

This is happening in a region that proudly calls itself “the Garden of Europe”.

This isn’t a new issue. For years, UK supermarkets have been warned about the maltreatment of farm workers in Nijar. Yet they continue to avoid using their influence to demand change, in contravention of the UN Guiding Principles in Business and Human Rights, which they claim to follow.

We’re calling on UK supermarkets to act. Agriculture is key to Nijar’s economy, so if some of its biggest customers raise the alarm, the mayor is far more likely to listen.

Together, we can pressure UK supermarkets to take responsibility and ensure fair living conditions for the workers who grow their – and our – produce.

Read Ethical Consumer’s article here. The joint letter has been prepared by our campaign partner Ethical Consumer. You can see it on their website.