Summary
The study investigates the effects of a variety of VSS and SSC labour standards on worker empowerment in the
horticultural export sector in Peru. The authors analyse company and a two-round
employee survey data using difference-in-difference propensity score matching method and find significant positive effects on worker awareness of labour rights and workers’ perceived agency to improve employment conditions. They conclude that labour standards can make a significant contribution to workers’ empowerment and recommend the inclusion of at least some specifications and requirements on labour issues in standards, which do not
primarily focus on labour but are widely adopted in developing countries (such as GlobalGAP),as this could have a positive impact on worker wellbeing.