October 2005

In several African countries, the cut flower industry is one of the major export earners with Kenya upfront. However, various labor unions and NGOs have been denouncing the bad working conditions for labourers on flower farms: long working journeys, low pay, crowded housing facilities and no access to protective work clothing. Through labeling, Fairtrade aims to support these campaigns by certifying those farms which ensure safe and good working conditions for the employees. Currently, there are 33 Fairtrade Certified Farms, 19 of them are in Africa, 14 in Kenya, 2 in Tanzania and 3 in Zimbabwe. In Latin America there are 11 certified farms and in Asia there are 2 in Sri Lanka and 1 in India. All these farms are examples of responsible business practice.

Due to the very high Fairtrade hired labour Standards, it is often difficult for farms which apply to meet immediately all the requirements for Fairtrade Certification. The story of Flower Panda, a flower farm in Kenya, is in that sense a very suc­cessful one. Panda was first inspected by FLO in April 2005 but did not meet the minimum requirements to become certified. The farm applied for a new inspection in June but again, in spite of the improvements, did not meet the requirements. Three months later, in September 2005, the changes were amazing. In only five months Panda was able to correct its deficiencies and fully comply with FLO stan­dards. It was worth the trouble. “I feel that having achieved FLO Certification, we earned something. And I know that any other farm certified in this manner deserves the label. I hope FLO will always keep these high standards, failing to do so would diminish the whole concept of the Fairtrade Label” explains Igal Elfezouaty, mana­ger of Panda Flowers.

The direct beneficiaries, the workers, are already realizing the material benefits of it.

“I am very happy with the payment of pro-rata leave dues and the reduction of working hours from 72 to 48 hours without touching my pay”, explains Catherine Sally Onchoke from the Security Department of the farm. Teresa Wanjiru Muki Ri, a grader in the pack house, adds “I have been paid my pro-rata leave dues and I am benefiting from a provision of free basic medical cover. I have also learnt about freedom of association which I was not really aware before”.

On the 6th of August the workers of Panda Flowers met with union officials who informed them about their working rights. “As a direct result of the FLO inspection, we have seen a better awareness of the staff, with particular emphasis on Free­dom of Association. I prefer dealing with a staff that is better educated and aware”, affirms Igal Elfezouaty.

Beside these improvements on the working conditions, Panda workers are bene­fiting from the “Fairtrade Premium”. Some of the projects planned for the coming year include improving the living standards of workers and the surrounding com­munities, provision of bursaries to the needy secondary school students of the farm employees and sinking of a bore hole outside the farm where a majority of emplo­yees are living to alleviate their acute water shortage. Panda is only one example of how Fairtrade labelling is making a difference in the lives of thousands of flower growers. It is expected that in the following months more farms will wish to face the same challenges as Panda. FLO is in the process of certifying new flower farms in Africa, Asia and Latin America, which will allow meeting the market demand and bringing prosperity to more workers.