Globalgap certification and working conditions of workers on smallholder mango farms in Ghana

Rexford Akrong (), Angela Dziedzom Akorsu, Praveen Jha and Joseph Boateng Agyenim
Additional contact information
Rexford Akrong: University of Cape Coast
Angela Dziedzom Akorsu: University of Cape Coast
Praveen Jha: Jawaharlal Nehru University
Joseph Boateng Agyenim: University of Cape Coast

Agriculture and Human Values, 2025, vol. 42, issue 1, No 26, 405-419

Abstract: Abstract Smallholder farm workers are important actors in global agricultural value chains. However, there is limited research on the extent to which certification affects their working conditions. This study analyzes the effects of GlobalGAP certification on the working conditions of smallholder farm workers in Ghana’s mango sector, drawing on insights from the International Labor Organization (ILO) decent work framework and qualitative interviews with farmers, wage workers on both certified and non-certified mango farms, and key stakeholders. We found that GlobalGAP certification has the potential to improve working conditions by increasing wages and the number of people employed, creating a healthy working environment, establishing a grievance mechanism, and securing worker health and safety. However, we argue that the certification scheme does not necessarily promote decent work due to limitations in both the guidelines and implementation. We also found that financial constraints and the limited supply of an educated labor force impede the implementation of social standards stipulated in certification schemes. Based on these findings, we recommend that trade unions organize wage workers on mango farms to enhance social dialogue between the state and certification bodies. This can enhance the spread of social protection mechanisms in rural areas.

Keywords: Certification; Decent work; Ghana; Mango Farm workers; Working conditions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10460-024-10616-w Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:42:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10460-024-10616-w

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/10460

DOI: 10.1007/s10460-024-10616-w

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture and Human Values is currently edited by Harvey S. James Jr.

More articles in Agriculture and Human Values from Springer, The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().