Brazilian Coffee Workers Sue Starbucks for ‘Slave-Like’ Conditions

For many people, coffee is a part of everyday life. A morning routine. A quick break in the afternoon.

A way to stay focused. But behind that cup, there can be a much darker story.

In Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, workers are still being found in conditions described by authorities as “modern slavery.”

Now, eight of them are taking one of the world’s biggest coffee sellers to court, reports Ziare.

One of those workers is a young man referred to as “John.” He was only 16 when he took a long bus ride across Brazil to start what he thought was honest work on a coffee farm.

He expected a fair wage and decent conditions. Instead, he arrived to find none of what he had been promised.

He worked from 5:30 in the morning until 6 in the evening. He had no gloves or boots. He labored under the sun with only 20 minutes for lunch.

In June 2024, Brazilian authorities rescued John and others during a raid.

The official report said they were kept in dangerous conditions, working without protection, proper housing, or enough food.

These workers are now suing Starbucks in a U.S. court. They want compensation for the harm they suffered.

Two organizations, International Rights Advocates and Coffee Watch, are also asking U.S. Customs to stop coffee imports connected to forced labor.

According to Jorge Ferreira dos Santos Filho, a labor rights advocate, coffee farming in Brazil often targets the most vulnerable.

He says people of color in rural areas end up with no choice but to accept abusive jobs. “We do it to survive,” he said.

Starbucks says it uses ethical sourcing standards through its “Cafe Practices” program.

But critics argue that the company still buys from farms involved in forced labor.

Terrence Collingsworth from IRA put it bluntly:

It’s beyond criminal. You can’t sell a $6 coffee harvested by someone treated like a slave and call it ethical.”

The lawsuit asks a hard question: who really pays the price for your daily cup?