Fairtrade and Human Rights in the Kenyan Cut Flower Industry
(2009)Human Rights Studies
- Abstract
- This study investigates what impact Fairtrade has on labour and human rights development in the Kenyan cut flower industry, by discerning developments and comparing conditions between Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade farms. The developments sustainability and Fairtrade in relation to previous research is also brought up and discussed. The study is mainly based on interviews with people knowledgeable about Fairtrade or the Kenyan flower industry, all conducted in Kenya and Tanzania during 2008.
Fairtrade farms had superior conditions in certain areas, but more systemic changes, like prevailing social norms were more difficult to change. The union was stronger on non-Fairtrade farms. Remuneration was similar between the two categories of farms,... (More) - This study investigates what impact Fairtrade has on labour and human rights development in the Kenyan cut flower industry, by discerning developments and comparing conditions between Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade farms. The developments sustainability and Fairtrade in relation to previous research is also brought up and discussed. The study is mainly based on interviews with people knowledgeable about Fairtrade or the Kenyan flower industry, all conducted in Kenya and Tanzania during 2008.
Fairtrade farms had superior conditions in certain areas, but more systemic changes, like prevailing social norms were more difficult to change. The union was stronger on non-Fairtrade farms. Remuneration was similar between the two categories of farms, but considered to be too low. The workers on the Fairtrade farms were empowered by knowing about their rights, a knowledge which to some extent had spread to neighbouring non-Fairtrade farms.
The sustainability of Fairtrade is uncertain, due to concerns relating to oversupply, reduced price premiums and doubtful intentions of joining. Access is limited and benefits do not reach the community. Fairtrade is privatisation of the law and may thus hinder law enforcement. Fairtrade leads to development in certain areas, which could constitute sustainable labour and human rights development, but not independently. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/1315678
- author
- Gårdman, Kristina
- supervisor
- organization
- year
- 2009
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Human rights, Labour rights, Kenya, Fairtrade, Flower industry, Social sciences, Samhällsvetenskaper, Mänskliga rättigheter
- language
- English
- id
- 1315678
- date added to LUP
- 2009-01-08 00:00:00
- date last changed
- 2014-09-04 08:27:49
@misc{1315678,
abstract = {{This study investigates what impact Fairtrade has on labour and human rights development in the Kenyan cut flower industry, by discerning developments and comparing conditions between Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade farms. The developments sustainability and Fairtrade in relation to previous research is also brought up and discussed. The study is mainly based on interviews with people knowledgeable about Fairtrade or the Kenyan flower industry, all conducted in Kenya and Tanzania during 2008.
Fairtrade farms had superior conditions in certain areas, but more systemic changes, like prevailing social norms were more difficult to change. The union was stronger on non-Fairtrade farms. Remuneration was similar between the two categories of farms, but considered to be too low. The workers on the Fairtrade farms were empowered by knowing about their rights, a knowledge which to some extent had spread to neighbouring non-Fairtrade farms.
The sustainability of Fairtrade is uncertain, due to concerns relating to oversupply, reduced price premiums and doubtful intentions of joining. Access is limited and benefits do not reach the community. Fairtrade is privatisation of the law and may thus hinder law enforcement. Fairtrade leads to development in certain areas, which could constitute sustainable labour and human rights development, but not independently.}},
author = {{Gårdman, Kristina}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Fairtrade and Human Rights in the Kenyan Cut Flower Industry}},
year = {{2009}},
}