Fairtrade strives for decent livelihoods
In a world where farmers are often not able to cover basic needs like decent housing and nutritious food with their earnings - despite growing the crops that drive supply chains worth billions on the global market – being able to earn a living income or living wage is an urgent matter to address.
Fairtrade is actively working to support farmers and workers achieve incomes that enable them to live dignified lives—a fundamental right endorsed by the United Nations for seven decades.
Despite this recognition, many producers continue to struggle with incomes that barely cover the costs of essential necessities.
Decent work and a decent living – it’s not too much to ask, right?
The ability to earn a decent living offers the next generation of farmers and workers a sustainable future. It will require everyone playing their part – including shoppers making choices that benefit farmer and worker livelihoods.
How Fairtrade supports decent livelihoods
We have separate approaches for farmers and for agricultural workers, recognising that the factors going into improving farm incomes and reducing costs are very different from paying a living wage.
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Strong standards
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Fairer pricing
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Fairtrade Premium investments
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Improving farm efficiency
"For the farmers of today and tomorrow one thing is blatantly clear: A stable, high-enough price is a precondition for improving their livelihoods in a sustainable manner."
Carla Veldhuyzen van Zanten
Senior Advisor Sustainable Livelihoods at Fairtrade International
Going even further
Fairtrade certification alone doesn’t always result in farmers and workers earning a decent livelihood. This is because cooperatives may not sell all of their produce on Fairtrade terms – meaning they only gain those financial benefits on a portion of their harvests – or they may face challenges like pests, disease or extreme weather due to climate change that decreases or even destroys their crops.
Living income
For living incomes, Our living income strategy addresses three priority areas: responsible procurement (including our pioneering Living Income Reference Prices), sustainable production (such as programmes that boost productivity and income diversification), and advocacy to create a trade environment that makes living income the norm.
Living wages
For living wages, our approach involves setting base wages and Living Wage Reference Prices, supporting trade unions and other workers’ groups to organise for wage improvements, collaborating with like-minded organisations and advocating for sector-wide or national wage efforts.