Human rights and environmental problems are widespread in global supply chains. Farmer incomes and worker wages are often insufficient. One of every five employed people live in poverty. Child labour affects over 100 million children working in agriculture. Water scarcity affects almost two thirds of the world's population at least one month each year.

These problems also impact Fairtrade certified supply chains. While research shows that Fairtrade makes a meaningful difference for many farmers and workers, poverty and inequality are so deep that no sustainability initiative can fully prevent all violations.

That is why it’s crucial that sustainability initiatives offer safe and confidential channels where people and groups can report issues and gain remedies for the harms they have faced.

Grievance channels at Fairtrade

For Fairtrade, grievance mechanisms are not only about credibility but also about legitimacy, accountability, and human rights. At Fairtrade, grievance mechanisms exist at the global, regional, and local level.

Globally, Fairtrade International encourages all parties to report complaints about Fairtrade or certified organisations. . Both Fairtrade International and its regional producer networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America address concerns about child labour, forced labour, and gender-based violence in certified supply chains. In market areas, concerns can be reported to 25 local Fairtrade organisations.

Further, Fairtrade Standards require grievance mechanisms from most certified organisations. Fairtrade’s auditor FLOCERT also responds to concerns about its actions, decisions, and non-compliances with Fairtrade Standards.

Continuous improvement

These channels are neither perfect nor a standalone solution. Fairtrade learns about human rights and environmental abuses in several other ways as well, including our own ongoing producer support and programme activities. We advance remediation of all cases, regardless of how they come to light.

However, Fairtrade’s grievance channels are meaningful. They allow many people to report about abuse, choosing whether they prefer to report to their own workplace, Fairtrade producer network or Fairtrade’s global channels. In 2025, FLOCERT alone addressed over 240 complaints.

Therefore, we work on many fronts to strengthen these channels and align them increasingly with the effectiveness criteria of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Enabling remedies

When we find abuse, Fairtrade International and its producer networks respond in a human rights-based manner. We listen to impacted persons’ views and avoid putting them at further risk. Their best interest is our top priority.

Fairtrade advances remediation through a combination of measures. We have an extensive presence across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, which allows for ongoing engagement, information sharing and capacity building among impacted persons and companies.

We can also support or undertake independent investigations and referrals to government agencies. In some cases, we even mediate between victims and companies and engage local civil society organisations. If the harm was directly caused by a Fairtrade representative or decision, we are responsible to provide remedies.

Remediation is reactive – it’s a response to abuse – but Fairtrade is prepared for it. We have developed clear policies, roles, and responsibilities to ensure timely and appropriate remediation.

Corporate responsibilities

Despite Fairtrade’s holistic work across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, we unfortunately cannot ensure full remediation of all harms. Most violations and harms in certified supply chains are neither caused nor contributed to by Fairtrade, so the duty to provide remediation lies with companies and states.

To shoulder their responsibilities, retailers, manufacturers, and trading companies need to set up company level grievance mechanism and remediation processes or participate in collective ones, co-invest in remediation work in their supply chains, and encourage cooperation by all supply chain actors.

Read more about Fairtrade’s grievance mechanisms and remediation work and how we address human rights violations.