Summary
The study was commissioned by Rainforest Alliance and explores the role of certification in the adoption of improved practices in banana plantain production. The authors collected data from 202 workers on 13 newly certified and 16 non-certified banana plantations in the Magdalena region of Colombia and analysed them using statistical t-tests and regression analyses. They find that hourly wages are significantly higher on certified than on non-certified plantations. However, wages reported by workers on certified and non-certified plantations are not significantly different. Certification contributes to additional monetary benefits for plantation workers, but no statistically significant relation with in-kind benefits could be found. Finally, Certification is related to a safer grievance claim system.