Cut-price supermarkets Lidl and Aldi are improving their record on human rights but PLUS is lagging behind, Oxfam Novib says.

Oxfam Novib has been publishing annual assessments of the human rights record of the five largest chains in the Netherlands since 2018.

Aldi and Lidl have made great strides in recognising the rights of workers, small farmers and women in developing countries who contribute to the supply chain.

Oxfam Novid human rights expert Charlotte Vollaard said: ‘Now they will have to show that their policy and practice really lead to improvements.’

Lidl and Aldi had an average score of 59% and 49% respectively on policy and transparency regarding human rights, with Jumbo and Albert Heijn on third and fourth place with 35% and 28%. Trailing in fifth place is PLUS, with 14%.

Although the supermarkets have improved, none can show that the people producing our food can earn a sustainable living and are not exploited, Vollaard said.

‘Albert Heijn and Jumbo must really get on with it and as for PLUS, it will really need to make an effort to catch up with the rest,’ Vollaard said.

‘But there is much more to do for every supermarket chain to eradicate exploitation. You can’t have always have the most competitive prices and a completely sustainable supply chain at the same time.’