For plantation workers in Valparai, Tamil Nadu, Fairtrade certification carries real meaning. It includes access to the Fairtrade Premium, an additional sum paid on top of the selling price, which workers/ farmers collectively decide how to invest. But those rights depend on the committees that govern them. When committee members have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, the benefits of certification are more likely to reach workers in practical and meaningful ways.

On 8 April 2026, 34 workers and management representatives from Parry Agro Industries Ltd.'s Iyerpadi tea estate took part in a half-day training organised by Fairtrade NAPP. Iyerpadi is a Fairtrade certified Hired Labour Organisation (HLO) tea estate located in the Valparai region of Tamil Nadu. The training brought together members of two key bodies: the Fairtrade Premium Committee (FPC), responsible for democratically managing how the Premium is used, and the Fairtrade Compliance Committee (FCC), responsible for ensuring the estate meets Fairtrade Hired Labour Standards.

The need for this training reflects a wider challenge in Hired Labour settings. Certification alone does not deliver worker benefit, that requires functional committees, clear accountability, and members who understand both their rights and their obligations. Where these conditions are missing, the distance between having Fairtrade certification and workers experiencing its benefits can be significant.

Building Knowledge That Workers Can Act On

Committee members came away from the training with a more grounded understanding of the Fairtrade system, from the significance of the Fairtrade Mark to the range of products covered under certification. For many, this wider context helped connect their day-to-day responsibilities to the system they are part of and the workers it is designed to serve.

The FPC sessions gave members greater clarity on how their committee is structured, how democratic decision-making should work in practice, and what individual members are accountable for in overseeing Premium spending. This matters directly for workers: a well-functioning FPC means that Premium funds are managed with greater transparency and in line with priorities that workers themselves have chosen.

For FCC members, the training addressed their specific role in monitoring compliance with Fairtrade Hired Labour Standards. A focused session on preparing internal audit checklists gave them a practical tool to carry forward. Rather than treating compliance as something that happens only during external audits, participants left with a structured way to stay on top of requirements through their own regular reviews.

Across both committees, the training helped participants see their roles not as administrative duties, but as responsibilities with direct consequences for their colleagues and their working conditions.

 Skills and Knowledge Gained at Iyerpadi

• Understanding the Fairtrade system and its principles- Participants explored the objectives of Fairtrade certification, the meaning of the Fairtrade Mark, and the range of products covered. This broader grounding helped committee members better appreciate the significance of their roles within the wider Fairtrade system.

• Roles and responsibilities of FPC members- Through focused sessions on the FPC's democratic composition and operating structure, members built clarity on how Premium decisions should be made, how committee positions are defined, and what they are personally accountable for.

• Fairtrade Premium management- Participants learned how Premium funds are tracked, what categories of investment are permitted under Fairtrade Standards, and how spending decisions must be documented and reported.

• FCC responsibilities in ensuring compliance- FCC members developed a clearer understanding of their role in verifying that the estate meets Fairtrade Hired Labour Standards, covering areas such as worker rights, health and safety, and social compliance.

• Developing checklists for internal audits- Participants worked through how to prepare structured audit checklists, equipping the FCC to conduct internal reviews independently and identify compliance gaps before external inspections.

Voices from the Training

“The Fairtrade training was very informative and engaging. The concepts were explained in a simple and accessible manner, which helped me better understand the importance of Fairtrade principles and how they apply in our workplace. It has strengthened my awareness and encouraged me to be more actively involved in Fairtrade activities.”

- Mr. Chinnaparaj, Worker, Parry Agro Industries Ltd., Iyerpadi Estate

“The training provided a clear and practical understanding of our roles and responsibilities as members of the FPC and FCC. The sessions were well-structured, and the trainer explained the requirements in a way that was easy to relate to our day-to-day work. I now feel more confident in contributing to Fairtrade compliance and managing responsibilities effectively within our organisation.”

- Ms. Parameswari, Worker, Parry Agro Industries Ltd., Iyerpadi Estate

What Comes Next

For the knowledge built during this session to translate into lasting practice, FPC and FCC members will need continued engagement, whether through periodic advisory support, peer exchanges with committee members from other estates, or refresher sessions as the committees apply what they have learned.

Iyerpadi Estate is one of more than 270 Fairtrade certified producer organisations across Asia and the Pacific supported by Fairtrade NAPP. Strengthening how committees like the FPC and FCC function is central to NAPP’s work with Hired Labour organisations across South India, part of the ongoing effort to ensure that Fairtrade certification is a foundation that workers can actively build on, not just a standard met at audit time.