Abstract

GARCIA-JIMENEZ, Humberto; GANDLGRUBER, Bruno  and  ZAMORA LOMELI, Carla. Value Chain Governance and Labor Migration: A Comparative Study of the Costa Rican, Honduran and Mexican Coffee Industries. Vértice univ. [online]. 2024, vol.26, n.95, e346.  Epub Jan 14, 2025. ISSN 2683-2623.  https://doi.org/10.36792/rvu.v26i95.346.

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between coffee production and the migration of day laborers, employing a comparative approach to value chain governance. The research seeks to understand how these dynamics impact migrant workers in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico, regions that attract a significant labor force.

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 data were analyzed using thematic coding derived from fieldwork findings. The results indicate that institutional governance significantly influences labor conditions and migratory patterns.

The study concludes that strengthening institutional frameworks is essential to ensure fair labor practices and an equitable distribution of benefits within the coffee value chain. Additionally, it recommends enhancing labor agreements and promoting sustainability in the coffee sector to improve the well-being of migrant workers.

Keywords : Agricultural markets; Labor migration; Coffee industry; Labor mobility.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )