Improving workers’ lives with Fairtrade

How Fairtrade is improving the lives of workers even in the midst of a pandemic

Fairtrade, the logo we often see on our favourite coffee and chocolate packaging, is all about tackling the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the most vulnerable. Here in Namibia, a group of charcoal harvesters have seen first-hand the benefit of being associated with this global support organisation, especially during a global pandemic.

“The aim of Fairtrade is to make sure that the primary producer is benefiting from the product that they make. Fairtrade focuses on the ethical treatment of people, it’s about the producers or harvesters” says Ian Galloway, the Managing Director of Jumbo Charcoal.

Jumbo Charcoal, with operations just outside of Okahandja, is Namibia’s largest exporter of barbecue charcoal to the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the United Kingdom. Cecile and Heiko Doll produce charcoal for Jumbo Charcoal. They have been Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified since they began their operations and have been Fairtrade certified since 2011.

Cecile and Heiko, together with their teams of harvesters, are considered nomadic charcoal producers, in that they do not own the land they produce on. They either lease land, or are hired by the farm owner to produce charcoal on their land. Harvesters target invasive species in accordance with the FSC-approved management plan, to ensure the process is environmentally sustainable.

Paulina proudly shows off her vegetable garden that feeds the charcoal workers

How Fairtrade benefitted farm workers in the time of Covid

As Ian explains, “It is a prerequisite for Fairtrade that our farmers are FSC certified”. FSC is an independent, nongovernmental organisation, established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.

Says Cecile, “We started in 2006 with charcoal and from the beginning we were FSC certified. In 2011 Fairtrade approached us, since we were one of the oldest charcoal producers in Namibia. They came to the farm and they have a checklist you must comply with concerning policies and labour practises. There are certain conditions and rules that you must adhere to.”

Cecile continues, “Fairtrade really helped us this year especially with Covid-19 and the lockdowns, which came quite suddenly. We were on the farm and couldn’t load our charcoal because the factory was closed. The region was closed and we had to get special permits to get rations to the workers, who couldn’t go home because of the lockdown and couldn’t sell their charcoal. It was quite difficult, but then Fairtrade asked if there’s something they can do to help. They made funds available for food rations for the workers during the lockdown, which really helped. So for us it’s a huge benefit to be part of Fairtrade.”

Ian explains, “During the lockdown, the farmers had many workers on the farms, and they weren’t really producing, so the committee gave money to keep the rations going. That was a really good project, and it also helped make sure the workers didn’t have to build up too much debt.”

Some of the benefits received by workers through Fairtrade

Fairtrade is driven by consumer buying power. As Ian explains, “One of our customers is Fairtrade certified, and the co-op is in England. So for every bag of charcoal we sell to them, we get a little bit of money back. That money comes into a bank account that is managed by a Workers’ Committee, elected by the workers. They decide what to spend the money on.”

The money collected through this initiative is intended for projects that will uplift the socio-economic conditions of the charcoal harvesters, and is therefore driven by the needs of the harvesters themselves. Listing some of the tangible benefits the workers at the Jumbo Charcoal packing plant have received, Ian adds, “They are doing adult literacy classes in Walvis Bay. We’ve got 70 people in the packing plant there and they are all doing adult literacy. Here at the packing plant (outside Okahandja) we have a kindergarten, bicycles for the workers and a vegetable garden. It’s a very nice garden, and the workers get lunch from it every day.”

Paulina, the woman in charge of the garden at Jumbo Charcoal, proudly shows us her productive vegetable site, and adds that “the workers will be eating fresh spinach today.”

The Workers’ Committee not only selects projects for themselves, but have chosen to improve the socio-economic conditions of those around them too. Ian explains that a recent project included a roof and a waiting area that was built at the local clinic. This development was done with the elderly in this community in mind, who used to have to wait outside in the sun for their doctor’s appointments. Another recent project included fixing toilets at a local school in town, whilst yet another included water points for the local community.

Cecile, too, provides a host of benefits that they have been able to offer to their workers, thanks to their commitment to being part of a global workers standards organisation. “Our guys used to stay in tents. The premiums we received from Fairtrade were used for housing, to improve their living conditions. We got 50 houses for the first project. It helped us a lot, because now they have a permanent residence. They also have protection from insects and snakes, or against the cold. Besides, these houses are quite easy to move. We have a truck that we load them onto to move to the next site.”

Cecile continues, “In the latest project, there was a need for beds and mattresses. So now everyone with a house has beds with mattresses. The workers get to decide for themselves what is most important, or what we can use the premium for.”

Ian adds, “They put in solar panels and solar lights at the workers’ houses. They have beds. We welded 300 beds, and these have now been distributed to those farms. Everyone has got a bed now.”

Cecile Doll says Jumbo Charcoal has been Fairtrade certified since 2011

The Fairtrade difference

Cecile says she is happy with their decision to adhere to best practices in sustainability and fairness guidelines. “I would definitely recommend being part of Fairtrade to other farmers, because it really improves the conditions for the guys on the farm.”

She adds, “I think the benefits are being able to give a more secure working environment to our people. Also, in this kind of charcoal work, you often have people moving around, trying different farms, but our workers stay with us on a permanent basis. We renew their contracts each year, and I think it’s because they are happy here, they are secure, there’s nice housing.”

Cecile concludes, “We used to struggle. There was always a turnover of new staff that needed to be trained from scratch. But now they always come back. This makes it easier for us too, because we can keep the production going. It’s FSC and Fairtrade that made this possible for us.”

Fairtrade standards have created an environment of empowerment for charcoal producers in Namibia, where farmers are able to effectively take care of their workers, especially in times of extraordinary circumstances.

Kirsty Watermeyer