Lobby for change
Make sure that the needs of small producers and plantation workers stay on the political agenda.
Multinational fruit companies and Multiple Food Retailers (MFRs) are unable or unwilling to break out of the “every day low price” business model that relies on offloading unreasonable costs and risks onto suppliers. Remind these companies that they should take responsibility for workers’ and producers’ rights all the way along their supply chains.
Campaign for national and European policy makers and governments to take responsibility by legislating for corporate accountability. Ask them to adapt current or develop new EU and national legislation to curb MFR buying power and help build sustainable banana and pineapple supply chains. Ask politicians to ensure that companies are held accountable for working conditions in producing countries.
Rights for people, rules for business
European companies impact on the lives of people all over the world. While these companies can bring benefits by, for example, providing jobs, they can also cause substantial harm to people and the environment. In the global south, companies too often behave unacceptably - from employing children to destroying rainforests. Sign the petition on Rights for people.org
Life on the plantation
SITRABI (the banana workers’ trade union in the Izabal region) has once again been hard hit by the armed repression of which male and female defenders of union rights in Guatemala are regular victims. Idar Joel Hernandez Godoy, treasurer of the central executive committee of SITRABI, was gunned down in cold blood on May 26, less than two months after the murder of another of his comrades, Oscar González Vázquez.
— Guatemala: End the Murders —
Did you know that?
About a third of small banana farmers' organizations certified as Fairtrade sell 95% of their exports as Fairtrade.
This website has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of Banana Link, Peuples Solidaires, BanaFair and NaZemi and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.