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As you might know bebemoss is awaiting its Fair Trade certification.When talking about Fair Trade, there are fundamental concepts that organisations and businesses like ours who are claiming to be Fair Trade must adhere to on a day-to-day basis. The World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) have come up with the 10 Principles of Fair Trade, as you can see below. To become certified WFTO audits and monitors the businesses. The last few days we had an auditeur visiting our workshop in Istanbul making sure we do respect them; checking our premisses, work practices and interviewing the artisan women.
Now let's look at those principles in details
Poverty reduction through trade forms a key part of the organisation's aims. The organisation supports marginalised small producers, whether these are independent family businesses, or grouped in associations or co-operatives. It seeks to enable them to move from income insecurity and poverty to economic self-sufficiency and ownership. The organisation has a plan of action to carry this out.
The organisation is transparent in its management and commercial relations. It is accountable to all its stakeholders and respects the sensitivity and confidentiality of commercial information supplied. The organisation finds appropriate, participatory ways to involve employees, members and producers in its decision-making processes. It ensures that relevant information is provided to all its trading partners. The communication channels are good and open at all levels of the supply chain.
The organisation trades with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalised small producers and does not maximise profit at their expense. It is responsible and professional in meeting its commitments in a timely manner. Suppliers respect contracts and deliver products on time and to the desired quality and specifications.
A fair payment is one that has been mutually negotiated and agreed by all through on-going dialogue and participation, which provides fair pay to the producers and can also be sustained by the market, taking into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. The aim is always the payment of a Local Living Wage. Fair Payment is made up of Fair Prices, Fair Wages and Local Living Wages.
The organisation adheres to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national/local law on the employment of children. The organisation ensures that there is no forced labour in its workforce and/or members or homeworkers.
The organisation does not discriminate in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, HIV/AIDS status or age.
The organisation provides a safe and healthy working environment for employees and/or members. It complies, at a minimum, with national and local laws and ILO conventions on health and safety.
The organisation seeks to increase positive developmental impacts for small, marginalised producers through Fair Trade.
The organisation develops the skills and capabilities of its own employees or members
The organisation raises awareness of the aim of Fair Trade and of the need for greater justice in world trade through Fair Trade.
Organisations which produce Fair Trade products maximise the use of raw materials from sustainably managed sources in their ranges, buying locally when possible. They use production technologies that seek to reduce energy consumption and where possible use renewable energy technologies that minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
