What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade Principle 7: Good Working Conditions

What is Fair Trade? 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 every day 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 practice in terms of provide a safe and healthy environment for their workers. This might start with simple hygiene measure, such as having clean and safe bathrooms and washrooms, for employees. It may include separating eating areas from work areas. 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.