05
Keep up the good work
‘What is required is
adequate government
enforcement of
international labour
standards everywhere’
Colin Roche, policy and advocacy
co-ordinator with Oxfam Ireland and chair of
Fairtrade Mark Ireland, on why we all have a
responsibility to push the Fairtrade message
SALES of products with the FAIRTRADE & Spencer (which sells 100pc Fairtrade virtually every supermarket in the country. Much more needs to be done by con-
Mark go from strength to strength, making coffee) are now switching whole product But it’s not enough. Millions of workers sumers, companies and governments.
a real difference to the lives of people in categories to exclusively Fairtrade. and small producers continue to work in While a change in consumer purchases is
many parts of the world. But much more Here in Ireland, sales of goods carrying appalling conditions for little reward — one hugely important response to the chal-
needs to be done to give producers every- the FAIRTRADE Mark are now increasing by often to supply companies and super- lenges of labour rights in factories, ulti-
where a decent living free from poverty. over 70pc per year. A survey conducted by markets in our cities and towns. In the mately what is required is adequate gov-
Consumers across the world are, in Millward Brown IMS for Fairtrade Mark same week as Sainsbury’s announced its ernment enforcement of international
ever-increasing numbers, demanding to Ireland in 2007 confirmed that one in three decision to stock Fairtrade bananas, British labour standards everywhere, so that no
know where the products they buy come people had bought a Fairtrade product charity War on Want published a report matter where goods come from, or by
from and how they are produced; and com- within the previous four weeks. on factories supplying major retailers whom they are made, workers are treated
panies are responding. The FAIRTRADE And Irish companies are responding too. in the UK and Ireland. It found extremely with respect and dignity and paid a decent
Mark — an independently run certification Since the first two tonnes of coffee bought long hours — regularly 80 a week — wage. Such international legal standards
that guarantees fair conditions for workers on Fairtrade terms were imported by seven-day working weeks and wages of as already exist; they are just not enforced.
and producers in the developing world – Bewley’s in 1996, Irish companies have low as seven cent an hour. And this needs to be matched by a frame-
can now be found on goods sold in more seen the benefit of supplying and selling work for global trade that ties the opportu-
than 20 countries, valued at over €1.4bn in Fairtrade products. Companies such as the Room for improvement nities provided by global commerce to gen-
2006. Millions of producers and their fami- coffee chain Insomnia have joined other This is depressingly familiar. Investigations erate wealth to the responsibility to ensure
lies in Africa, Asia and Latin America now cafe groups in serving 100pc of their coffee by trade unions and development organi- that it benefits those living in poverty. Too
benefit from Fairtrade purchases. on Fairtrade terms. Even the famously cost- sations regularly reveal abuses across the often the rules of global trade pit the strong
Large retailers such as Sainsbury’s conscious Ryanair is now serving Fairtrade developing world in industries supplying against the weak and make it more difficult
in the UK (all of whose bananas tea and coffee on all its flights. Goods with companies in Europe, North America and for poor countries to climb the ladder of
carry the FAIRTRADE Mark) and Marks the FAIRTRADE Mark can be found in elsewhere. development.
Java Republic’s Spyder Coffee Blend is 100% Fairtrade
This fresh handroasted coffee is a blend of 50% Fairtrade
Guatemalan and 50% Fairtrade Excelso (Colombia) and is ground
specifically for Filter and for Plunger
www.javarepublic.com
The Roastery, Citylink Business Park, Tel: 00353 1 456 5506
Old Naas Road, Dublin 12 Fax: 00353 1 456 5530
Email: info@javarepublic.com
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