Gästbloggare
#85 Being British but living in Sweden I enjoy two Mothers’ Days, and, if I’m lucky, I receive flowers both times. In March it was locally- grown daffodils. This weekend it’s Swedish Mother’s Day and I’m hoping for Fair Trade roses.
The key issue in flower production is hired labour since workers employed seasonally are easily exploited. Sales of cut flowers increase each year with new supply coming from countries such as Kenya where it can be hard for workers to influence their working conditions, and wages can be as low as $1 per day.
When you buy Fair Trade flowers you can be sure that:
- Producers receive a minimum price for their flowers
- In addition producers receive a Fair Trade Premium
- A joint body of workers and management exists to manage the Fair Trade Premium, with workers given the veto in decision-making
- The Fair Trade Premium is used for community development and improved working conditions for workers
- Forced labour and child labour is prohibited
- Workers have freedom of association and collective agreements, with the right to establish or join a union
- Salaries are equal to or higher than the regional average or the minimum wage
- Health and safety measures are established to avoid work-related injuries
In Sweden Fair Trade flowers are available from Blomsterlandet and Lidl, amongst others. I wonder who’s buying for me?
Detta är inlägg #85 i initiativet #blogg100 som går ut på att skriva minst ett blogginlägg om dagen i 100 dagar med start den 1 mars 2014
