Labor, Employment and Human Rights

The Issue

Over 70 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights that laid out a set of basic rights and freedoms that governments would agree to protect. Today, these principles have are a bedrock of international labor, employment and human rights law and led to important guidelines for business and governments to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses in business operations.

Our View

Cargill is unconditionally committed to protecting human rights, treating people with dignity and respect in the workplace and in the communities where we do business, and operating responsibly across the agricultural, food, industrial and financial markets we serve. We are a signatory to the UN Global Compact.

Cargill believes responsible supply chains must respect people and human rights. We believe it is essential that all parties in the supply chain—industry, government and non-governmental organizations—work together to improve rural livelihoods, raise incomes, and ensure children and adults are not subject to illegal, abusive or enforced conditions. We currently are taking actions in our cocoa, soy, palm and cotton supply chains to prevent and address illegal, abusive or forced work.

Cargill also believes that respecting and protecting human rights includes the elimination of discrimination in employment, the promotion of equal rights, and adherence to legal and regulatory labor requirements. We work to prevent and remedy problems and with grievance procedures that allow all stakeholders to raise issues in a transparent manner.

We support the role multilateral trade agreements play in promoting labor and human rights—including work requirements, environmental standards and freedom of association.