What is Fair Trade? 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.
International Women's Day 2022 | 8th March
#SheLeadsTheWay
The Fair Trade movement is celebrating #IWD2022 with a global campaign #sheleadstheway. Keep your eye out on socials for some great activity leading up to 8th March.
Fair Trade Enterprises see women as key partners in the revolutionizing of the present economy into a fairer one. Women as sources of expertise need to be acknowledged and valued for their key contribution in building a fairer world.
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.
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