Colombian Coffee Sector Representatives Complete RURALIA Diploma Programme on Living Wages – CoffeeTalk

More than 30 representatives from workers’ organisations, companies, and public institutions in Colombia’s coffee, banana, and palm oil sectors have successfully completed the RURALIA diploma programme on living wages and incomes, organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This comprehensive 100-hour programme included a mix of in-person, virtual, and asynchronous sessions designed to provide participants with essential knowledge regarding wage determinants, remuneration mechanisms, wage disparities, collective bargaining, and working time structures.

The primary goal of this training was to enhance technical capacities and promote evidence-based social dialogue, facilitating the advancement of living wages within agricultural supply chains connected to European markets. During the closing session held in Santa Marta, participants engaged in field visits to various banana and palm oil companies. These visits offered practical insights into production dynamics and existing wage practices, exemplified by tours of the Nueva Esperanza farm and GREMCA, where the positive impacts of remuneration mechanisms and collective bargaining on working conditions and productivity were evident.

Union representatives offered praise for this initiative, highlighting that even small-scale producers are committed to providing decent wages. The collective agreements observed in the palm oil sector serve as a testament to the potential for mutual prosperity between workers and companies. This diploma programme is part of the ILO’s broader project titled “Setting living wages/incomes in agriculture,” which encourages technical cooperation and social dialogue across regional and sectoral levels. Ultimately, through the promotion of equitable and sustainable supply chains, the programme aligns with the principles of decent work, thereby contributing to the strengthening of Colombia’s agricultural sector.

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