It is a commonly known fact that the working environment for coffee bean farmers is less than optimal. There are many risks that are associated with the profession. Things like child labour, small wages, long working hours as well as a variety of physical hazards such as hearing impairment from machinery, long working hours, stress, health issues from pesticide exposure, etc., are common (“International…”, 2004). The majority of these risks can be attributed to the poverty of the coffee growers. Like other commodities, coffee beans are subject to great flux in price in the world market and this flux in price has a serious effect on the growers and their financial wellbeing (“International…”, 2004). A down turn in the prices of coffee beans can lead to widespread poverty for the growers and a decrease in the quality of working conditions for all those that work for them, including the firing of regular employees to hire women and children who will accept a lower wage (“International…”, 2004). Among others, the rights to a safe workplace and the rights to a fair wage are addressed when discussing the coffee grower’s work environment.
The role of a union is filled by the fairtrade organization for many coffee growers. Fairtrade ensures that even when market prices for coffee beans are down, growers will receive the fairtrade minimum price (“Coffee farmers”, n.d.). This guaranteed price helps growers avoid poverty and the nasty side effects that come with it. “They have also enabled them to increase sales and revenue every year since becoming Fairtrade – in 2011 net revenue was increased by 84%.” (“Oromia Coffee Farmers”, n.d.). Fairtrade also provides communities and coffee businesses with loans to invest in better infrastructure. This investment can lead to things like education for children, better equipment for employees, development of health clinics, etc. (“Oromia Coffee Farmers”, n.d.).
Though, at first glance, there doesn’t seem to be any issues with fairtrade, it is far from a perfect system. One flaw is that in order for fairtrade to work, consumers must be willing to purchase the higher priced fair-trade coffee. Without the consumer’s willing participation, there will be no benefits for the growers. Fairtrade also only represents coffee growers that pay to be a member and so leaves the vast majority of producers to only their local unions or no unions at all (Wydick, 2016). In addition, fairtrade only looks at the benefits for the growers and not at all the employees that are hired by the growers, and the rights that they deserve.
Fair-trade is not perfect but it is a start to improving the welfare of the coffee growers and the environments that they work in. In order for the coffee grower’s situation’s to improve, organizations like fairtrade must continue to bring awareness of the situation to the consumers so that they might buy products that will more benefit the producers. The development of unions in the various countries where the coffee beans are grown will also help the situation. Minimum amounts to pay seasonal employees, minimum ages to hire employees, etc. are all things that the local unions could work to improve in their own countries or communities. With some work and time, the coffee industry may reach a point where it’s unions represent and protect all of the rights of the coffee growers.
For an interesting video showing an example of a coffee grower who works with fairtrade, see http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/Farmers-and-Workers/Coffee.
Martinko, K. (2018, October 11). Fairtrade is sadly losing appeal for UK buyers. Retrieved November 5, 2019, from https://www.treehugger.com/culture/fairtrade-losing-some-its-appeal-uk-buyers.html.
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