{"id":7337,"date":"2025-01-13T15:48:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T14:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arisa.nl\/?p=7337"},"modified":"2026-02-05T09:39:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T08:39:04","slug":"hm-clause-enza-zaden-and-seedworks-join-syngenta-and-basf-in-multistakeholder-collaboration-to-improve-labor-standards-in-indias-vegetable-seeds-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arisa.nl\/en\/hm-clause-enza-zaden-and-seedworks-join-syngenta-and-basf-in-multistakeholder-collaboration-to-improve-labor-standards-in-indias-vegetable-seeds-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"HM.CLAUSE, Enza Zaden, and SeedWorks join Syngenta and BASF in multistakeholder collaboration to improve labour standards in India\u2019s vegetable seeds sector"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New partners build on significant progress for multi-year collaboration focused on addressing child labour and minimum wage compliance issues.<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\"WISH<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0The Netherlands \/ United States (January 13, 2025) \u2013 Founding partners BASF, Syngenta, and Arisa announced today that HM.CLAUSE, Enza Zaden, and SeedWorks have signed on as partners in the Wage Improvements in Seed Hybrids (WISH) project. Initiated in 2022, WISH focuses on addressing minimum wage compliance issues and child labour issues in India\u2019s vegetable seed sector. The project is co-funded with a grant from the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the beginning of the project, increasing commitment from various companies within the Indian vegetable seed industry was identified as a key factor for success. Addressing the challenge of labour conditions requires broad stakeholder collaboration, including local officials, farmers, and companies of all types. This shared commitment is critical to improving labour conditions and ensuring minimum wage compliance in one of the world\u2019s most significant vegetable seed markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen seed companies unite for industry-wide transformation by aligning on, for example, production practices which consider the realities faced by seed growers – they can cultivate a fairer ecosystem. This collaboration, necessary for industry-wide change, can empower seed growers to pay fair wages, improve labour rights and nurture dignity and equity for those working in seed supply chains,\u201d said Sandra Claassen, Director of Arisa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WISH project comprises two phases. Phase one, completed in 2023, focused on baseline survey research<\/a> intended to better understand the status of child labour and minimum wage compliance issues in seed production locations in India where BASF and Syngenta are active, specifically the Karnataka and Maharashtra regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phase two, currently underway, is focused on implementing meaningful changes across multiple focus areas, from awareness raising, training and capacity building, to stakeholder engagement, networking and scaling up best practices, to advocacy on a local and international level. The project\u2019s founding partners have achieved several important milestones in phase two over the past 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WISH<\/figure><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Awareness Raising and Capacity Building<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Three implementation NGO partners were identified to drive critical on-the-ground support in India by engaging and training key stakeholder groups. These partners are ASK Training & Learning, Yuva Mitra and SNEHA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To strengthen connections within India\u2019s seed industry, 150+ meetings and trainings were facilitated for over 1,750 individuals, including seed growers, laborers, labour organisers, transportation drivers and government officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Content for the trainings focuses on five core areas of learning and capacity-building:<\/p>\n\n\n\n