Effect Of Fairtrade Practices On Social Economic Development Of Flower Farm Workers In Naivasha, Kenya
Abstract
Fair-trade trading system is a system that has been developed to allow fair benefits for all the
people involved, more particularly the producers and the workers. It has a set of standards that if
met, the company receives a fair-trade certification which allows it to enjoy certain benefits.
These include having price floors for their products and receiving premiums which can be used
in investing in social economic projects in their community. These standards include guarantee
of social welfare for the workers, health and safety, equity, good working conditions and many
more. Available literature provides for evidence of the system being useful in starting some of
the social economic projects in different parts of the world. However it is in these same areas of
work that Kenya human rights commission had complained of rampant abuse of human rights
and the recent mass protests, work boycott and strikes have been recorded. Hence this study
sought to understand if indeed the system is working towards improving lives of especially
workers in the flower industry. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect
of fair-trade trading system in improving the social-economic development of flower farm
workers. In order to achieve this purpose the study used descriptive survey design which helped
in getting information on the current status of the phenomena under study. The target population
was flower farm workers in Naivasha who come from both fair-trade certified and non fair-trade
certified. The research further targeted the employees who held supervisory positions in the
farms this is because the managers could have been biased in giving their views while the
general workers may not have understood the dynamics and workings of the fair-trade trading
system. A sample size of 197 respondents was used to carry out the research. The sample size
was arrived at by use of both probability and non probability techniques. At choosing the flower
farms, the researcher used purposive sampling which ensured that those farms that are fair-trade
certified and those that are not are included in the sample. Data was analyzed using descriptive
statistics. This was made possible by the using of SPSS software and presented through tables
and percentages. The study found out that social welfare practices were promoted, that premiums
have been used in starting community projects, equity was adhered to and minimum prices
ensured steady income and job security for the workers. The study also concluded that there are
social welfare associations that sought to improve the quality of the farm workers and that fair
trade premiums had been used in the construction of hospitals and schools. The premiums have
also been invested in projects that improve the quality of the workers. It also concluded that there
was no discrimination against the vulnerable and that promotion in the work place was based on
the performance of the individual. The study also concluded that working conditions in flower
farms positively contribute to the socio-economic development of flower workers to a large
extent. The minimum prices ensured development of the workers by ensuring job security and
steady income. The study recommended that the farms in Naivasha to build more housing
facilities. The study also recommends that more premiums be remitted to developing countries to
promote start of social economic projects. Those farms that are not fair-trade certified should
work on getting the certification to allow enjoyment of minimum prices and subsequent benefits
to the workers.
Citation
Master Of Arts In Project Planning And Management Of The University Of Nairobi, 2014Publisher
University of Nairobi,
Description
A Research Project Report Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The
Requirements For The Award Of The Degree Of Master Of Arts In
Project Planning And Management
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5981]