In an analysis published in March 2026, WÖK examined the investigation into working conditions on Fairtrade-certified South African wine and citrus farms, highlighting complaints from workers relating to wages, housing, access to Fairtrade Premium funds and worker participation. WÖK said the findings echoed concerns identified in its own previous research and raised questions about whether Fairtrade certification is delivering meaningful improvements in working conditions and worker power.
The scrutiny has continued later this year. Fairtrade has published new monitoring data covering 2024, reporting €1.15 million in Fairtrade Premium generated in South Africa, including from wine grapes and fresh fruit. The developments do not establish that the wage study or monitoring measures were a direct response to the investigation, but they prove that reports and investigations centred on working conditions on South African farms remain active within the Fairtrade system.
The original investigation by Marcello Rossi and Stephan Hofstatter was supported by Journalismfund Europe's Environmental Investigative Journalism grant programme, and published in Oxpeckers, The Africa Report, and other media.
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