Dole Costa Rica Gets SA8000 Certification
Banana farms in Costa Rica owned
by Dole Food Company, Inc. have been certified to the Social
Accountability International SA 8000 work place and human rights
standard. The company-owned El Bosque pineapple plantation also received
its SA 8000 certification.
The certification covers the cultivation, harvesting and packing of
bananas and pineapples for exportation to the United States and Europe.
SA 8000, an internationally recognized standard based on the ILO
conventions, the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the Convention on Rights of the Child, focuses on child labor,
forced labor, health and safety, freedom of association and the right to
collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working
hours, compensation and the implementation of an efficient management
system.
In 2000, Dole's then owned subsidiary, Pascual Hermanos, was the first
agricultural company in the world certified to SA 8000. Subsequent to
this certification, all Dole managed banana and pineapple plantations in
the Philippines have been certified to the SA 8000 standard.
In total, Dole has approximately 18,000 employees in its banana and
pineapple operations covered by SA 8000 certifications, or approximately
73% of that workforce. The Company is committed to expanding SA 8000
certifications in its Central and South America operations.
In extending that commitment, Dole anticipates seeking certification of
all the Company's farms in Latin America to SA 8000 in 2005. Dole is a
signatory member of Social Accountability International and serves on
its advisory board.
This SAI certification is the most recent manifestation of Dole's
commitment to ensure that the Company's operations, wherever located,
protect both its work force and the environment.
In July 1998, Dole's banana operations in Costa Rica became the first
agricultural producer in the world to receive certification to the
environmental management standard, ISO 14001, an internationally
recognized standard, which was developed by the International
Organization for Standardization.
Subsequent to that date, over 20 Dole divisions or affiliates in Central
and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa have earned the ISO 14001
environmental management certification.
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