Switzerland’s leading investigative NGO is calling for greater transparency and regulation of agricultural traders..., pointing to the wide range of human and labour rights issues that arise in the low-income producing countries. 

“Switzerland, as a home state to many of the globally significant agricultural traders, has a central role to play in ensuring more balanced power relations along global agro-food value chains,” notes Public Eye...

The organisation wants Switzerland to issue stringent regulations to tackle the range of human rights violations  - ranging from the lack of living wages and incomes, to forced and child labour, as well as health and safety hazards - that arise along the value chains of Swiss-based companies.  

Switzerland still relies largely on corporate social responsibility – not enough in the view of Public Eye...  

Corruption and tax-dodging are other issues of concern in the agricultural sector.  

“Switzerland must ensure there is sufficient transparency in the commodity trading sector as well as mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence that covers high-risk activities and ensures respect for human rights wherever Swiss companies do business,” says the organisation.