Guidelines have potential to influence lives of workers worldwide

Guidelines have potential to influence lives of workers worldwide

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) has launched new guidelines to help the supply chain tackle the challenge of implementing codes of conduct with smallholders. The guidelines have been developed by a multi-stakeholder group that includes Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and other high-street retailers, leading food brands, fair-trade organisations as well as Oxfam and the TGWU with input from a wide range of stakeholders in Kenya.

The ETI believes that this collective experience demonstrates that the entire food industry - not just retailers but also suppliers and trade unions - must play a part in safeguarding and improving the conditions of workers. The guidelines therefore provide tailored recommendations, guidance and tools for each of these groups.

Dr Maggie Opondo, ETI's project manager in Kenya said: "We are delighted to have been the case study country for the development of the ETI guidelines. They have the potential to make a major long-term impact on the lives of workers worldwide, and not only in Kenya. We had great support from UK retailers and Kenyan suppliers, local and international NGOs and unions in preparing the guidelines, for which we are grateful. Such influential stakeholders will help us drive this process through and we look forward to reviewing progress in the field when we assess the feedback in early 2006".

The ETI smallholder guidelines recommend that retailers and purchasers should continue to source from smallholders, map and assess their needs, provide support down the supply chain, develop a long-term action plan, putting in place incremental steps to improve labour conditions over time.

The ETI smallholder guidelines provide detailed guidance on how retailers and purchasers can put each of these principles into practice. The guidelines also explain what NGOs, trade unions and smallholders themselves need to do to support improvements in working conditions on smallholder farms.

The guidelines can be downloaded in three languages at: www.ethicaltrade.org/Z/lib/2005/09/smhldr-gls/index.shtml

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