More Principles of Fair Trade
Nimmity Zappert, founder of All of the Good Things shares some more insights on what some of the principles of Fair Trade actually mean.
Fair Trade Principle 6: No Discrimination. Gender Equality. Freedom of Association.
The organisation does not discriminate in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement. The organisation has a clear policy and plan to promote gender equality and respects the right of all employees to form and join trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively.
No Discrimination. Gender Equality. Freedom of Association.
The Fair Trade movement is committed to alleviating poverty for all. This means ensuring that Fair Trade enterprises do not discriminate.
In any society, those on the outskirts culturally, are often at a disadvantage for employment. We know the saying ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”. This is a short-hand way of saying that most people find employment or advance their careers through their relationships. This is a natural part of how we all as humans operate. The challenge is to ensure that these networks, in-particular those which may have come from a traditional way of thinking over a long period of time, do not exclude others or have too much resistance to change.
By stating that Fair Trade enterprises should have no discrimination, this ensures that they actively work to be inclusive, not just in hiring but in all aspects of their enterprise.
Many Fair Trade enterprises work directly with smaller communities that may have traditionally been excluded from the mainstream economy in their region, to help them build their own businesses and provide employment for their own community.
Fair Trade has Positive Impact on Gender Equality
Fair Trade enterprises impact 1 million livelihoods globally, 74% of whom are women. 54% of senior positions in Fair Trade Enterprises are held by women.* This is way above the global number, which currently sits at 31%**, an amazing achievement.
Why have Fair Trade enterprises managed to have such great success in this area, where other businesses have failed?
It’s a good question. One of the reasons is that Fair Trade businesses are built by the people, to work for them. For example, in the Fair Trade business that I visited in Uganda several years ago, they were organised as a cooperative, so that the women got together regularly to talk through any concerns they had and how the business should operate. They supported each other with child care and flexibility around their other family commitments.
Fair Trade enterprises are enduring examples of how when given the right support and freedoms, people can come together to achieve great things.
Fair Trade Principle 7: Good Working Conditions
The organisation provides a safe and healthy working environment for employees and/or members. It complies, at a minimum, with national and local laws and International Labor Organisation's conventions on health and safety. Fair Trade organisations are aware of the health and safety conditions of their producer groups.
Good Working Conditions
Living in Australia, we tend to take for granted that our working environment is safe and healthy. Health and safety work practices have become part of our everyday language when working.
This is not the case everywhere in the world. In many countries, national health and safety standards may be very light, with little or no checks in place to ensure they are being followed. Often ensuring a safe and healthy work environment is left to the employer.
Fair Trade enterprises are helped to understand good practices in terms of providing a safe and healthy environment for their workers. This might start with simple hygiene measures, such as having clean and safe bathrooms and washrooms, for employees. It may include separating eating areas from work areas. The advice can be given on how to ensure workers using equipment are using the appropriate safety gear, such as goggles or glasses to protect their eyes.
Good Working Conditions During Covid
When Covid hit, many Fair Trade enterprises were heavily impacted, being in countries that were heavily hit by the pandemic. Fair Trade enterprises were helped to implement necessary measures to maximise the safety of workers. For example, creating split shifts to minimise the number of people in a space and insisting on the wearing of masks while working. The work to help businesses adjust their business practices to manage the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic continues.
Ensuring good working conditions helps to empower Fair Trade workers by maintaining their health and wellbeing, which supports their ongoing employment which in turn supports their families and communities.
Fair Trade Principle 8: Capacity Building
The organisation seeks to increase positive developmental impacts for producers through Fair Trade. Organisations working directly with small producers develop specific activities to help these producers improve their management skills, production capabilities. and access to markets.
Capacity Building
Fair Trade enterprises impact 1 million livelihoods worldwide.*
Capacity Building is where the Fair Trade movement really stands out from other for purpose movements. Fair Trade is not just about ensuring that businesses are ethical and do no harm. Fair Trade goes a step further to proactively work with small producers to empower them to grow and build their own skills, businesses and communities.
Fair Trade enterprises are supported to teach their workers the skills they on the job, such as how to work in a team manufacturing environment. They are helped with things like how to source materials sustainably and for a good price, and then how to price their goods appropriately, including not just the materials used, but also taking into account their skills and time. They may also get help with learning simple accounting methods so that they can run their business effectively.
Australian Designers Collaborating with Fair Trade Artisans
One of the common ways Australian businesses work with their fair trade suppliers is to help them with designs that will sell in the Australian and other wealthier markets. Often, Australian businesses will create a design and then work with the fair trade artisans and makers to create their product, using the artisan’s traditional skills.
This focus on helping to design products that sell well in international markets is one of the key aspects in helping fair trade enterprises to thrive. It would be very difficult for a dressmaker in Cambodia to know what dress design will sell in Sydney, in the Blue Mountains. Through close collaborative work, someone in Katoomba can buy a stylish on-trend piece, that is designed in the Blue Mountains and made by a fair trade artisan in Cambodia. They can know when buying that piece that they are directly helping the maker to continue to build their business and support their family.
Over the past 60 years of the Fair Trade movement, capacity building has enabled some fair trade enterprises to become generational businesses, which have grown to support whole communities. It is an incredibly powerful model that continues to show results.
Fair Trade Principle 9: Promote Fair Trade
The organisation raises awareness of the aim of Fair Trade and of the need for greater justice in world trade through Fair Trade. It advocates for the objectives and activities of Fair Trade according to the scope of the organisation.
Promote Fair Trade
Promoting Fair Trade and the principles it stands for, are key to the ongoing success of the movement. If no one knows what Fair Trade is, there is no incentive to buy Fair Trade products or continue to build Fair Trade businesses.
Fair Trade businesses generally do not need much encouragement to spread the word about Fair Trade. Being a part of the movement means that businesses are first-hand experiencing the benefits of the model. Fair Trade enterprises are proud to be a part of this global community.
Global Community
Being a fair trade business or a supporter of the Fair Trade movement is not just about running a business to the Fair Trade principles. It is about being part of a vibrant global community of businesses and advocates who are working together to alleviate poverty through trade.
The World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) runs global campaigns in support of like-minded causes such as International Women’s Day and Fashion Revolution Week. In addition, World Fair Trade Day is the 2nd Saturday in May each year and is a great celebration of all things Fair Trade.
Get Involved
You can support the movement in many ways:
by buying fair trade products
becoming a Friend of Fair Trade
joining a Fair Trade Community
becoming a Business Member of Fair Trade
by becoming a Fair Trade Community, such as a Fair Trade Workplace
Fair Trade Principle 10: Respect for the Environment
Organisations that produce Fair Trade products maximise the use of raw materials from sustainably managed sources in their ranges, buying locally when possible. They use production technologies that seek to reduce energy consumption and where possible use renewable energy technologies that minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Respect for the Environment
Respect for the environment is key to all fair-trade businesses. A holistic approach to sustainability ensures that in addition to the core principles around positive employment and support for people, fair trade enterprises understand that caring for our environment is important for any successful business to thrive.
The World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) is currently focussing heavily on working to have an impact on climate change and environmental issues, such as plastic pollution. They are in the process of strengthening the wording and certification requirements for Principle 10, details of which we expect to be published soon.
World Fair Trade Day 2022
Climate Justice
The theme for World Fair Trade Day 2022, is Climate Justice. The two weeks leading up to World Fair Trade Day on 14 May 2022 is full of events and activities educating and celebrating Climate Justice. The Fair Trade Association ANZ will be running local campaigns and events as part of this global campaign. Follow them on social media to be kept up to date.
All of the Good Things Supports Fair Trade
Our philosophy is first and foremost, to do no harm to people or the planet. Then we choose to do what we can to have a positive impact. That’s when we get the really good feels. Then we know we are nudging the dial towards a world full of optimism, joy and fun for everyone.
Our first choice is to source from Fair Trade suppliers wherever possible.
