The US State Department and Coca-Cola are planning to create a register of workers using blockchain technology. This will help to fight forced labor. This decision was made because Coca-Cola uses sugar for their beverages production, and in countries where sugarcane is collected, forced labor is often used.

A global head of workplace rights at Coca-Cola, Brent Wilton, told:

“We are partnering with the pilot of this project to further increase transparency and efficiency of the verification process related to labor policies within our supply chain.”

For information, in 2017 KnowTheChain, the resource initiated by Humanity United, reported that most companies engaged in food and beverage couldn’t solve the problem with forced labor.

According to The International Labour Organization, about 25 million people are in actual slavery at the present time. Almost half of these citizens live in the Asia-Pacific region.

Blockchain will ensure transparency and security in process of employees registration. In such blockchain-based registry the information about citizens and their employment contracts cannot be adjusted or falsified.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Busby told that “the Department of State is excited to work on this innovative blockchain-based pilot.”

Source:

https://cryptovest.com/news/coca-cola-backs-blockchain-project-to-fight-forced-labor/