ekaterra's response to allegations of abuses in its tea supply chain
...We know that a living wage is vitally important in addressing human rights and we are taking steps to understand the living wage gap and act on the findings in our supply chains...
Recently, we signed an agreement with IDH-Sustainable Trade Initiative to work on Living Wage in our supply chain. IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative has developed a tool ‘The Salary Matrix’ which allows suppliers to assess how the salaries (including the in-kind benefits) they provide to their workers compare to the living wage benchmark. ekaterra is using IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative’s tool to establish any living wage gaps in its supply chain and to create plans to address identified shortcomings in its tea supply chain. We make sure that the employees in our own tea operations earn a living wage in line with a benchmark approved under the IDH roadmap...
We’re working with IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative and other peers towards a global industry commitment along with other stakeholders...
[The full response is attached]