Sugar Industry Faces Scrutiny Over Labor Abuses and Debt Bondage in India

Pressures Mount on the Sugar Industry to Address Labor Abuses

The sugar industry is under increasing scrutiny to enhance its supply chain practices and ensure better oversight. Recent investigations have uncovered alarming instances of women in India, the second-largest sugar producer globally, who are trapped in cycles of debt bondage and are being coerced into undergoing hysterectomies.

In response to these revelations, a coalition of labor leaders in India staged a three-day hunger strike to advocate for improved working conditions. Notably, Coca-Cola, a major buyer of sugar from Maharashtra, held discreet discussions with Indian government officials and local sugar suppliers last month to address the pressing issue of responsible harvesting. Moreover, Bonsucro, an organization dedicated to setting standards within the sugar industry, announced its intention to establish a human rights task force to tackle these concerns effectively.

The investigation, conducted by The New York Times in collaboration with The Fuller Project, exposed a disturbing array of labor abuses. Among these were accounts of female sugar cane cutters in Maharashtra being coerced into illegal child marriages, allowing them to work alongside their husbands. Locked in a cycle of debt to their employers, these women found themselves obligated to return to the fields season after season, as highlighted in the report.

Additionally, many women reported feeling pressured to undergo hysterectomies for what were often routine health issues, such as painful menstrual periods. This surgical intervention frequently required them to borrow money from their employers to cover the costs. While the procedure eliminated their menstrual cycles and kept them working in the fields, it also posed significant health risks, including the possibility of early onset menopause.

Notably, the investigation revealed that sugar producers and major corporate buyers have been aware of these abusive practices for years. However, their responses have been minimal at best. Alarmingly, one mill that benefited from these exploitative practices had even received a seal of approval from Bonsucro. This endorsement has been used by prominent brands such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever, and General Mills to enhance the perceived integrity of their supply chains.