Rigorous evidence to act on child labor in Peru's coffee supply chain

Lima, May 2026.

DYA Peru reaffirms its commitment to the eradication of child labor with the publication of the report "Assessing Labor Abuses in the Coffee Supply Chain in Peru", commissioned by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and prepared by ICF with participation from Centro de Desarrollo y Autogestión / DYA Peru.

The study rigorously examines the presence of child labor in coffee production in Cajamarca and Junín, two of Peru's main coffee-producing regions. Through surveys, interviews, and supply chain analysis, the report provides concrete evidence on factors that perpetuate child labor and on gaps in traceability and certification systems.

The research was conducted between August and September 2025 and included 127 surveys with adult coffee workers, 16 in-depth interviews with adults, 11 interviews with children working on farms, and 31 key informant interviews with sector stakeholders.

Among the findings from the study sample, the report identifies the participation of children and adolescents in coffee farming activities, exposure to sharp tools, illnesses or injuries associated with farm work, and difficulties in ensuring farm-level traceability in non-certified supply chains. It also analyzes the reach of certification systems and their potential to support stronger prevention conditions.

The report itself notes that the sample is not statistically representative of Peru's entire coffee sector. Its results should therefore be read as specific evidence from the research and as an input to strengthen coordinated responses.

We firmly believe that knowledge is the first step toward change. Solid and systematic data on this reality allows us — as civil society, the private sector, and the State — to design more effective responses to protect children and ensure that no child sacrifices education and well-being due to economic need.

The full study is available for free download in the DYA Resources section and on the U.S. Department of Labor website.

Commissioned by: U.S. Department of Labor (ILAB) · Prepared by: ICF, with participation from Centro de Desarrollo y Autogestión / DYA Peru.