Between law and voluntary sustainability standards: a case study of the labor conditions in Brazilian coffee production

Abstract

The rise of private governance mechanisms has been highlighted as a critical instrument to avoid labor rights flexibilization and defend decent work conditions in agricultural chains. This paper analyzes the impact of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs) on labor rights in the coffee production sector of Cerrado Mineiro, a traditional region in Brazil. In 2017, Brazil underwent a comprehensive reform of its labor laws and legal institutions. Based on qualitative research using primary and secondary data, this research investigates whether VSSs were effective in preserving labor rights for rural workers in a more deregulated institutional environment following the 2017 labor reform. Results indicate that VSSs do not guarantee labor rights, and that labor law relaxation may endanger rural coffee workers.