Multilateral Forum calls for action on human rights across agri-food supply chains
Mexico City, 22 October 2026. The Multilateral Forum on Business and Human Rights brought together 75 representatives from 28 organisations at Mexico City’s Club de Banqueros on 23 September to discuss how to turn human and labour rights commitments into everyday practice across North American agri-food supply chains.
| 75 representatives | 28 organisations | 7 thematic sessions | 15 years of the UN Guiding Principles |
Organised by Stronger Together Mexico, PERIPLO —driven by Fundación Avina—, AHIFORES, CIERTO Global and Institute for Human Rights and Business, the Forum brought business, government, civil society and international organisations representatives together to discuss international trade, human rights due diligence, responsible recruitment, labour migration, gender equality and worker participation.
Labour rights are increasingly linked to market access
A central message for the export-oriented agri-food sector was clear: respect for labour rights is no longer only a reputational issue; it is increasingly relevant to access to international markets. USMCA labour mechanisms, measures targeting goods linked to forced labour, and regulatory frameworks in Canada and the European Union reinforce the need to prevent and address labour risks throughout supply chains.
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Beyond audits: putting due diligence into practice
Participants highlighted that the challenge is to embed existing frameworks into day-to-day operations. Human rights due diligence means identifying and managing risks, preventing and mitigating impacts, monitoring progress and enabling access to worker’s remedy; preparing for an audit is not enough. It also requires collaboration between companies and suppliers, alongside trusted channels for workers to raise concerns.
Practical approaches discussed included responsible recruitment regional corridors, business policies and ethical charters developed through social dialogue, labour inspection closer to the field, and trusted grievance mechanisms for workers. The Forum also emphasised gender-responsive approaches and the need to address informality in migrant worker recruitment.
A shared agenda
Compliance costs should not fall solely on small producers. Buyers and retailers can support suppliers beyond audits, share compliance costs and invest in worker participation. Businesses can also work together to improve sector-wide practices, even when they compete commercially.
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Participants expressed a desire to sustain dialogue among business, government and civil society, and to ensure that regional experience informs global standards. Mexico’s forthcoming National Policy on Business and Human Rights offers an opportunity to advance responsible recruitment and worker protection, although no publication date has been confirmed.
About Stronger Together Mexico
Stronger Together Mexico supports agricultural businesses in embedding responsible recruitment and human rights due diligence across their operations and supply chains, working with private, public and civil society stakeholders.
More information:
Stronger Together Mexico – Stronger Together
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