Flowers and plants
Frequently chosen as a go-to present to uplift someone's day, flowers are universally appreciated for their stunning beauty. Flowers are also a huge industry, that has undergone significant changes including a gradual transfer of production from countries in the Northern hemisphere like the Netherlands to the Southern hemisphere where climatic conditions are more favorable, such as Ecuador, Kenya and Sri Lanka.
The flowers and plants industry
Though flowers and plants are all around us, many flower and plant workers often struggle to earn a decent living. Many employees endure low wages, work extended hours without receiving overtime pay and lack benefits such as sick pay or maternity leave.
In Ethiopia for example, there is no legal minimum wage, and in Uganda the minimum wage set by the government is half that of the World Bank poverty line.
Current challenges
The flower industry is a vast global business, which grapples with significant challenges that warrant attention.
- Labour exploitation: In certain flower-producing regions workers endure meager wages, often below the poverty line, leaving them struggling to meet basic needs. Many find themselves compelled to work excessively long hours, sometimes up to 14 hours a day, six days a week, with little to no compensation for overtime. The prevalence of short-term contracts and daily hiring further exacerbates the vulnerability of the workforce.
- Market power disparities: A handful of large corporations wield considerable influence over the international flower trade, echoing the imbalances seen in the banana industry. Retailers frequently engage in aggressive pricing strategies, offering substantial discounts on flowers. Fierce competition for customers sometimes results in consumer prices plummeting below production costs, placing immense financial strain on flower growers.
- Environmental and health ramifications: The use of chemicals to combat pests and diseases in flower cultivation raises concerns for both the environment and the well-being of workers and their communities. The runoff from these chemicals can contaminate water sources, posing risks to ecosystems. Additionally, the health of those working on flower farms may be compromised. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of the flower industry.
- Climate change and disease vulnerability: Flower producers face formidable challenges from climate change, including droughts, floods, and hurricanes that threaten farms and yields. The flower sector contends with the economic burdens associated with plant diseases.
As the flower industry continues to thrive, it is imperative to address these pressing issues to create a sustainable and ethical global floral market.
“Fairtrade has improved my low living standards to a better and higher living standard. I have plans to buy land and if I continue working here, I will continue benefiting from Fairtrade, making deposits and after some years I will buy land for my family.”
Jacinta Wanjira Muiga, flower worker at Valentine Growers, Kenya
How Fairtrade makes a difference
There are a number of ways Fairtrade supports flower and plant workers.
- Better wages: More than twice as many Fairtrade flower workers are in relatively higher wage brackets than those on non-Fairtrade plantations. As a founding member of the Global Living Wage Coalition, Fairtrade champions the Anker Methodology for calculating living wages, and has applied it to flower farms in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. Fairtrade has calculated required floor wages for a number of countries as supporting guidance to the Flowers and Plants Standard.
- Fairtrade Premium: While flowers and plants are one of the few Fairtrade products that do not have a Fairtrade Minimum Price, the lack of a Minimum Price is balanced with a higher Fairtrade Premium – one of the highest of all Fairtrade products. Workers can use these Premium payments to invest in education, community infrastructure, workers’ rights trainings and other projects.
- Fair working conditions for workers: The Fairtrade Standard for Hired Labour covers rules on health and safety including pesticides and protective equipment - holidays, social security and contracts. Workers on Fairtrade certified flower plantations have formal labour contracts as a norm, which is still a rarity on non-certified estates, and are free to join a union.
- Gender equality: Fairtrade Producer Networks run training courses on Fairtrade farms to raise awareness about women's rights, what constitutes harassment and how to implement an effective gender policy. We also extended the Women's School of Leadership and launched the Dignity For All programme to cover Fairtrade flower farms in Ethiopia: more than 11,000 women flower workers have benefitted.
- Robust environmental criteria: The specifications require irrigation with reduced water consumption, strict waste management and respect for biodiversity. Highly toxic pesticides and GMOs are prohibited.
Sustainable energy for Kenyan flower workers
This project aims to improve the overall socioeconomic wellbeing of flower farm workers and their households. To get there, a combination of financial incentives through Fairtrade Premium Committees, capacity building and advisory services is used to promote clean energy. The project engages with wider communities to advocate for climate action. In particular, the project enhances community resilience by providing clean energy solutions. Furthermore, it also encourages peer learning between flower farms.
Learn more