Training on Prevention of Child Labor in Coffee Sector Provided

February 20, 2018 — Hawassa

ECTA and UNIDO Deliver Child Labor Training in Line with EU Regulations

The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), in collaboration with UNIDO, is providing training on child labor in the coffee sector in line with European Union regulations (EUDR). The trainings are focused on national and international policies, concepts, and laws related to child labor.

The training is delivered by trainers from ECTA, the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MOLS), and the International Labor Organization (ILO), and is targeted at coffee sector growers and coffee industry investors from Sidama, Southern, and Oromia regions.

Sidama Authority Director General Issues Market Warning

At the opening session, the Director General of the Sidama Regional Coffee, Fruits and Spices Authority, Mr. Mesfin Qare, delivered a welcome speech. He highlighted that one of the four core benefits of the coffee sector is job creation, and warned that involving children in labor is prohibited by international law.

He stressed that violating child labor regulations risks losing access to the European Union coffee market - a critical export destination for Ethiopian coffee - and urged growers and industry owners not to jeopardize their market access by employing children.

Strengthening Compliance Across the Coffee Value Chain

The trainings aim to enhance participants' awareness and knowledge of child labor standards at both national and global levels. It is expected that the comprehensive curriculum - covering definitions, concepts, and applicable laws - will meaningfully improve the trainees' capacity to comply with international requirements and protect Ethiopia's reputation as a responsible coffee exporter.

This initiative is part of Ethiopia's broader effort to ensure its coffee sector meets international social and environmental standards, supporting long-term access to premium export markets, particularly in Europe.