May Day Perspective: Fair Trade & Labour Rights

Photo Courtesy of Loesje International

Today is Labour Day so I think it would be fitting to talk about the connection between fair trade and labour rights. 

First thing first, what is fair trade?

According to the World Fair Trade Organisation, fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. In simple terms, fair trade ensures that people involved in the production process in the developing nations are fairly paid for their work and provided with decent working environment. 

Fair trade seeks to protect labour rights in the following ways: 

Fair trade means fair pay

Fair trade cuts out the middlemen that exploit producers and works directly with them. This means that producers have a say on what constitute a fair price for their commodities or goods. 

Fair trade means better working conditions

Organisations are required to comply with local labour legislations on working hours and safety standards as well as the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on health and safety. 

Fair trade means no child labour

Organisations have to adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and local laws on the employment of children. Organisations must ensure that no child labour is used in the production process to be certified as fair trade. 

Fair trade means jobs for marginalised workers

Fair trade usually creates jobs and economic opportunities by partnering with cooperatives or associations that are committed to the social, health and economic well-being of members. In addition, fair trade organisations also work with other marginalised communities such as the disabled, human trafficking victims and refugees that may otherwise have difficulty securing employment. 

Fair trade means no discrimination 

Fair trade works to ensure equal pay for equal work for both men and women. Organisations cannot discriminate based on gender, race, caste, nationality, religion, disability, age and various other non-performance related factors.

Fair trade means women are empowered

Fair trade by definition seeks to eliminate discriminatory labour practices which generally affects women. On top of fair wages and labour protection, fair trade cooperatives also afford women opportunities for education, leadership roles and entrepreneurships.

One Day Without Shoes, Can You?

Photo courtesy of TOMS

April 29 this year is designated as One Day Without Shoes  by none other than TOMS, the shoes company that popularised the One-for-One movement whereby for every pair of shoes bought, another is given to a child in need. In line with the brand's mission, the campaign aims to raise awareness on children's health and education in impoverished nations by highlighting the roles shoes play in health prevention and educational access.

Unlike previous years, there are no public events in Singapore to support this campaign. Rockstar Singapore put up a pretty cool campaign at their store last year and what appears to be a grassroot campaign was organised in 2012.

Admittedly, I didn't spend the entire a day without shoes, maybe just one-third of my day (and most of it at home!). But what brought to my attention with this campaign was how most of us take so many things for granted. Things such as fresh air, clean water, three square meals a day and even yes...even the shoes on our feet.

Bryan Manuel from Guatemala had his eyesight restored with the support of TOMS eyewear purchase.
Photo courtesy of TOMS.

TOMS have also branched out to selling eyewear and coffee using the same, successful One for One business model. For their eyewear business, TOMS have pledged to use part of the profits to restore eyesights to those in need whereas TOMS coffee provides one week of clean water to a person in need. They also organise annual charity trips for volunteers and fans of TOMS to distribute the donated shoes through the help of their Giving Partners.

TOMS are not without their critics. Development organisations and fair trade activists have argued that the 'One for One' model is nothing more than marketing wizardry that makes consumers feel great but creates a culture of aid dependency and destroy economies of donor countries. In addition, their use of third-party manufacturers have also raised concerns about the ethics and transparency of their supply chain.

That said, it is heartening to know that TOMS are paying heed to these critics and have committed to not only address the risks in TOMS' supply chain but also create jobs in donor nations as exemplified by their Haiti Artist Collective. They are also offering shoes using raw and organic materials to limit their environmental impact. Also, in the context of Singapore and Asia in general, purchasing a pair of TOMS is probably heaps better than buying mass-manufactured shoes in the shopping mall where accountability and transparency is few and far between.

My pick: TOMS shoes collaboration with designer, Jonathan Adler

For those keen on getting a pair of TOMS' trendy slip-on shoes, you can head to Rockstar Singapore and Pedder Red (Ngee Ann City) or shop online via vPost. 

Design Up Asia - Empowering Single Mums to Become Jewellery Artisans

Photo courtesy of Design Up Asia

As part of the Fashion Revolution campaign, I attended an Upcycled Quality Jewellery Making Workshop conducted by Design Up Asia, a Singapore-based social enterprise with the mission to empower low-income, single mothers who are unable to afford childcare to earn a living through crafting jewellery from home.

The accessories are eco-friendly and sourced from recycled and vintage materials. Their main jewellery line is designed by highly-seasoned designers and looks like any trendy jewellery retailing in stores along the Orchard Road shopping belt. Prices are also affordable ranging from S$10 to S$50.

I spoke to Kim, one of the co-founders of Design Up Asia, who told me that the social enterprise was founded when they won the Arthur Guinness Fund Hackathon, a social innovation competition, organised to meet the needs of marginalised women in Singapore.

L. our trainer helping me secure the hooks on the bracelets

Muli-coloured recycled beads used in the jewellery-making process

The participants for this workshop were trained by L., a single mum under the Design Up Asia program. She painstakingly guided us amateurs to create stunning handmade pieces using recycled materials. After much frustration, fumbling around and reassembling the beads countless times, I finally made a classic 'pearl' bracelet and a clam-shell necklace inspired by a safari adventure and seaside escapade (?!!).

My safari adventure meets seaside escapade necklace

To view the main jewellery line, you can visit Design Up Asia online store or shop via Zalora SG. They also run jewellery making workshops for volunteers, corporations' team building sessions as well as personal events such as birthday parties. Design Up Asia can also create a customised line of jewellery upon request by clients. Do head to their website to check out the good work they are doing to support and empower single mums and also to pamper yourself (or your other half) with their trendy, handmade pieces.

Excuse me, miss....your clothes are #InsideOut?

"Excuse me, miss...your clothes are inside out?" were the first words spoken to me as I walked towards the office. 

"Yes, I know," I confidently responded. "You mean this is deliberate?" said the confused lady. I replied with an affirmative YES and proceeded to explain to her the significance of this campaign. 

Today is Fashion Revolution Day. It was created to commemorate the anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh that killed over 1130 people, mostly garment factory workers and injured another 2500 other workers due to illegal extensions made to the building. 

It is a call for action to the fashion and retail industry to treat those who made our clothes better. From the machinist sewing our clothes to the farmers growing and harvesting the cottons. Each and everyone in the retail supply chain should be accorded with the respect and dignity they deserve. 

Given the global nature of the fashion and retail industry's supply chain, it may be difficult to effect change as retailers can easily shift their apparel productions to other low-cost countries with little labour rights and protection. It is, unfortunately, a race to the bottom as retailers chase their own bottom line. But we - as consumers - can take a stand through our purchasing power. By making an effort to support fairly traded goods, we send a signal to retailers that we will not stand for their exploitation of these poor workers. 

So, let's take a stand and start a fashion revolution. Ask them. Who Made Your Clothes?