Fair and Safe Labour

Fair Trade includes ethical labour conditions for both hired labour situations and small producer organizations.

Hired Labour

Fair labour standards are especially important in hired labour situations, where bigger farms employ workers. Here’s why:

Employers must pay decent wages; salaries must be equal or higher than the regional average or than the minimum wage in effect. They must also guarantee the right to join trade unions, provide good housing where needed, and ensure that health and safety measures are established.

There must be a Joint Body, which includes workers and management. This group is responsible for managing the Fair Trade premium.

Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) regards the ILO Conventions as the authority on working conditions, and for hired labour situations these also include:

• Freedom from Discrimination
• Freedom of Labour (FLO follows ILO Conventions on child labour and forced labour)
• Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
• Conditions of Employment
• Occupational Health and Safety

Read the Generic Standards for Hired Labour Situations here.

                                                                                  Photo: Mr. Didier Gentilhomme

Small Producer Organizations

Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) regards the ILO Conventions as the authority on working conditions for small producer organizations as well. These standards include freedom from discrimination, freedom of labour (no forced or child labour), and freedom of association and collective bargaining. There are also conditions of employment, as well as occupational health and safety, that must be met.

Read the Generic Standards for Small Producer Organizations here.