Fair Trade and Fair Labor: The Fair Solution

          Fair Trade and Fair Labor: the fair solution to sweatshops. Sweatshops, whether they are in factories or in fields, exploit workers, whether they are men, women, or young children. A solution: buy Fair Trade products and shop from stores that members of the Fair Labor Association. Fair Trade products, in order to  be Fair Trade ceritified must meet the following criteria: "fair prices to producers; fair wages to laborers; democratically run producer cooperatives or workplaces; safe, non-exploitative working conditions, public accountability" (Jaffee, Kloppenburg, & Monroy 174) as stated in an academic journal I found on the EBSCOHost library database. These criteria ensure that workers have good working conditions and receive fair wages. Fair Trade cooperative (farmers unions) are sometimes even able to fund the building of schools and healthcare facilties through the profits they receive (kuapakokoo.com). The Fair Labor Associaton (FLA), founded in 1999, aims to bring together responsible colleges, universities, and companies in the crusade against sweatshops. Companies who are members of the FLA achieve FLA standards in the factories that manufacture their products. Colleges and universities that are members of the FLA must make sure that the licensees supplying their licensed produts either get or make their products in factories where workers' rights are not violated or exploited in any way (http://www.fairlabor.org/).  So, whether you purchase Fair Trade of Fair Labor products, you can rest assured that these items did not come from sweatshops of any kind!!!

          Some may ask how buying these products is a solution to sweatshops or how it is possible amd/or realistic. First of all, buying these products ensures that the producers/workers/laborers have been treated fairly and paid fairly. Buying these products will also take away business from companies that use sweatshops. By buying these products and taking away business from companies that exploit and by and raising awareness by example and by spreading the word, perhaps those companies will realize that it is not okay to exploit their workers. Secondly, buying these products is realistic because they are on the rise, especially those that are Fair Trade-certified. In the past ten years, the United States has gone from importing 2 million pounds of Fair Trade-ceritied coffee to importing 110 million pounds (Smith) !!! Thirdly, this solution is possible because many places carry these products. Big companies, like Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts use fair trade products!! Large retailers, such as Costco and Whole Foods, are now carrying a larger selection of Fair Trade-certified products (Smith)!! Even better, the Caldwell College bookstore is a member of the Fair Labor Association!! YAY!!! That means you can shop with "cougar pride" !!!! Other Fair-Trade-certified products, like Divine Chocolate, are available in Whole Foods.  Why not shop fair trade and fair labor for Christmas and know that the gifts you are giving are bringing joy to EVERYONE!!!

For more information on Fair Trade-certified prodcuts like Divine Chocolate, fair labor products, and sweatshop-free clothing companies, visit the following websites:
www.divinechocolate.com/
www.mirembekawomera.com/
www.nosweatapparel.com/
americanapparel.net/
www.newdream.org
www.greenamerica.org/pubs/realmoney/articles/nosweatshops.cfm
www.fairlabor.org

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