Fairtrade responds to autumn budget
“Breathing space is welcome, but tinkering around the edges will not tackle the bigger challenges facing our economy or our food security.
Marie Rumsby, Director of Advocacy at the Fairtrade Foundation, said:
“Breathing space is welcome, but tinkering around the edges will not tackle the bigger challenges facing our economy or our food security.
“The Government has an easy opportunity to show it is serious about building a fairer, more resilient economy: publish its overdue review into Responsible Business Conduct and move forward with stronger regulation of global supply chains.
“The economic case is increasingly difficult to ignore. Recent Fabian Society research estimates that inaction on labour exploitation and environmental damage costs the UK at least £4.4 billion a year, compared with an estimated £0.4 billion for compliance and enforcement through new legislation.
“Businesses are already asking for action, with seven major UK supermarkets among those backing new legislation to tackle human rights abuses and environmental harm in supply chains. With the impacts of climate change already being felt, 2027 must be the year the Government moves from small fixes to the bigger decisions our economy needs”
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