Stronger Together receives grant from the Walmart Foundation for its US Responsible Recruitment & Fair Work Program 

Stronger Together is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a further grant from the Walmart Foundation to continue its Responsible Recruitment & Fair Work program which aims to enhance recruitment and employment conditions for agricultural workers and strengthen the sustainability of the North American agricultural sector. 

Since 2019 and through collaborative business partnerships, Stronger Together US has been at the forefront of efforts to increase the supply and demand of ethically recruited and managed farmworkers who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation during recruitment. 

Through the new grant funding, Stronger Together US will continue and expand its efforts to support North American agribusinesses in implementing responsible recruitment and fair labor practices via training, resources, tools, and Clearview certification, aligned to international and sector standards like the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. 

“Responsible recruitment is fundamental for ensuring that workers receive the fair and dignified treatment they deserve throughout the recruitment and employment process. It not only safeguards workers’ rights but also generates positive benefits for businesses by fortifying the integrity of the labor supply chain,” says Jantine Werdmüller von Elgg, Co-CEO, Stronger Together. “At Stronger Together, we believe in collaborative progress, striving to cultivate environments that uphold ethical and equitable systems. Together, we are committed to effecting meaningful change within the agricultural sector and beyond.”  

Already a service provider in the Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP), Stronger Together US looks forward to deepening its collaboration to scale responsible recruitment and fair working conditions in the fresh produce and floral industry as well as strengthening collaboration with existing partners and stakeholders.   

“Implementing the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices is an industry-wide challenge that demands industry-wide collaboration. The complex issue of recruitment brings human, ethical, and commercial risks, and working with Stronger Together US allows produce suppliers to address the issues and reap the business reward of a more sustainable labor supply chain,” explains Kenton Harmer, Director of Market-Based Impact, ECIP. 

As part of the grant activities, Stronger Together and its program partners will also launch the American Association of AgLabor Providers (AAALP) a new trade association that will promote professional, safe, responsible, and sustainable recruitment and labor practices through education for farm labor contractors (FLCs) and labor recruiters. In doing so, AAALP will establish an agribusiness environment that better serves the needs of agricultural workers, ag labor providers, growers, and their client buyers, wholesalers, and retailers. 

“Strengthening and professionalizing the recruitment of agricultural workers in North American produce through AAALP and the Ethical Charter Implementation Program is important work in which the Walmart Foundation is pleased to support Stronger Together, and we are excited to see how stakeholders engage to drive positive impact at scale for workers,” said Gavin Bailey, Senior Manager, Walmart Foundation. 

Get Involved  

Whether you are a labor provider, grower, retailer, or consumer, your support and participation are crucial to creating a sustainable and equitable future for all workers and businesses in the industry. Learn more about Stronger Together US:  https://www.stronger2gether.org/us/  

Contact information 

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Tags: US, Responsible Recruitment, agriculture, united states

Categorised in: United States, News, US