Value Chain Governance and Labor Migration
A Comparative Study of the Costa Rican, Honduran and Mexican Coffee Industries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36792/rvu.v26i95.346Keywords:
Coffee value chains, Labor migration, Labor sustainabilityAbstract
The study examines how the coffee value chain impacts migration flows and labor conditions for workers in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico. The objective is to explore the relationship between coffee production dynamics and the migration of day laborers, using a comparative institutional governance analysis of value chains. The research addresses how the coffee value chain dynamics affect migrant workers' labor conditions in these three countries.
Based on an exploratory study conducted for the IOM and IICA in 2021, the methodology included case studies in selected regions. A total of 50 semi-structured interviews were conducted with producers, migrant workers, and authorities, and the data were analyzed through thematic coding to identify recurring patterns. The findings reveal that institutional governance significantly influences labor conditions and migration patterns.
The study concludes that strengthening institutional frameworks is essential to ensuring fair labor practices and an equitable distribution of benefits within the coffee value chain. It also recommends improving labor agreements and supporting the sustainability of the coffee sector to enhance the well-being of migrant workers.
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