National Commission for Ecuador

In response to the interest from Ecuadorian industry stakeholders in maintaining the World Banana Forum (WBF) as a leading neutral platform for tripartite dialogue and international coordination, a National Commission for Ecuador has been established under the WBF framework. This Commission facilitates information exchange and dialogue among government representatives, banana producers, and trade unions to address the specific challenges of the Ecuadorian banana industry and strengthen stakeholder relationships. Key topics include shared responsibility, due diligence, decent work, occupational health and safety, gender equity, child labor prevention, fair wages, women’s empowerment, policy development, climate change, TR4, and consumer awareness.

Objectives

  1. Support the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) and promote sustainable practices to reduce the carbon footprint of the country’s banana production.
  2. Develop actions to foster decent work in the national banana sector.
  3. Use the WBF’s multi-stakeholder Banana Occupational Health and Safety Initiative (BOHESI) to promote the reduction and/or elimination of OHS risks in the banana industry.
  4. Enhance understanding of gender issues and the realities faced by women workers in the national banana industry.
  5. Advocate to reduce gender-based barriers to employment and promote equal opportunities for women in the banana industry.
  6. Ensure practices that prevent and protect against child labour in the banana industry's supply chain and promote decent work opportunities for youth.
  7. Create mechanisms that facilitate living wages for workers in the banana industry
  8. Support compliance with environmental and social requirements in the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and other international sustainability standards.
  9. Support strategies to prevent and control diseases like Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 in banana production.
  10. Raise consumer awareness about the sustainability challenges of banana production and encourage informed purchasing decisions.

Members of the Commission

All stakeholders in the country are invited to participate in the Commission's activities. To join the National Commission for Ecuador, please contact Victor Prada at [email protected] or the WBF Secretariat at [email protected].