1. LOBBYING: A CASE STUDY AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
Women on Farms Project
Oxfam Link & Learn
15 November 2012

2. I. Background
• Tesco is the biggest supermarket in
UK and biggest purchaser of South
African fruit
• Tesco claims that it sources all its
produce from “ethical suppliers”
throughout the world
• WFP repeatedly reported labour
rights violations on Tesco-supplying
farms to Tesco
• WFP dismissed/ ignored WFP’s
reports
• Tesco asked WFP for farm workers’
names.

3. II. The Issue?
• Tesco to ensure that Tesco-
supplying farms comply with
labour laws
• Tesco to ensure that all its
supplying farms sign up to
WIETA farm audits

4. III. Lobby Target?
• Main target: Tesco UK
Power to exert pressure on
farmers
Thereby, effect improvements
across hundreds of farms
• Other targets:
 UK NGO, ActionAid-UK
 Trade union, Sikhula Sonke
 Farm workers
 UK consumers

5. IV. Strategy & Tactics
• Farm worker, Gertruida Baartman,
volunteered to “go public” on
labour conditions on a Tesco farm
• ActionAid-UK bought 3 shares in
Tesco (6p =78c each!)
• Gertruida attended Tesco AGM in
London as a Tesco shareholder
• Massive media coverage in UK:
before and during the AGM
• Gertruida spoke of her own
experiences as a seasonal farm
worker on a Tesco-supplying farm
• Outcome: Tesco Chairperson
met with WFP/SS and Gertruida
• All Tesco-supplying farms were to
be audited / inspected.

6. V. Lessons & Tips
• Garner support and cooperation
from many like-minded partners
• Let affected people to speak for
themselves
• Use media effectively throughout
• Articulate a message that is
incontrovertibly moral and just
• Identify target’s “weak spot” – hit
them where they will feel it most
• Employ a “device” that grabs
attention, inspires, galvanises.