At Trade Aid, we do things a little differently than your average business. We champion an alternative way of trade – a fair way.
The World Fair Trade Organization has created ten principles that Fair Trade Organisations must follow in their day-to-day work, and carries out monitoring to ensure these principles are maintained. At Trade Aid, these principles guide our work and decision making:
1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
Fair trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.
2. Transparency and accountability
Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.
3. Trade relations
Fair trade organisations trade with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalised small producers and do not maximize profit at their expense. They maintain long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect that contribute to the promotion and growth of Fair Trade. An interest-free pre-payment of at least 50% is made if requested.
4. Fair payment
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.
5. Child labour
Fair trade organisations respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as local laws and social norms in order to ensure that the participation of children in production processes of fairly traded articles (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play. Organisations working directly with informally organised producers disclose the involvement of children in production.
6. Non-discrimination, gender equity and freedom of association
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. Fair Trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organisations.
7. Working conditions
Fair Trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers. Working hours and conditions comply with conditions established by national and local laws and International Labour Organization conventions
8. Capacity building
Fair trade is a means to develop producers’ independence. Fair trade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organisations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets.
9. Promoting fair trade
Fair trade organisations raise awareness of fair trade and the possibility of greater justice in world trade. They provide their customers with information about the organisation, the products, and in what conditions they are made. They use honest advertising and marketing techniques, and aim for the highest standards in product quality and packing.
10. The environment
Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.
