Justice in the Fields: A Report on the Role of Farmworker Justice Certification and an Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Seven Labels

Title: Justice in the Fields: A Report on the Role of Farmworker Justice Certification and an Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Seven Labels
By: Fair World Project
Summary:

Voluntary certification programs can play a role in farmworker justice. While
voluntary certification programs cannot and should not replace other
mechanisms such as government policy, law enforcement, and democratic
worker organizations or unions, they potentially can complement these tools and
set a high bar for labor practices on farms.

To be effective, voluntary certification programs must have strong enforcement
mechanisms and include workers in all levels of decision-making, governance,
and enforcement. This includes independent auditing programs, worker control
of claims made regarding labor practices, and complaint mechanisms that result
in correction of violations. To make a market claim, programs must include
rigorous standards that go far beyond legal requirements, along with meaningful
economic leverage, both to encourage proactive compliance with those standards
and to enforce them when necessary.

This report looks at the need for improved conditions for farmworkers and the
role that voluntary certification can have securing justice for farmworkers. It
analyzes and compares seven programs in the areas of monitoring, enforcement,
and worker empowerment, health and safety, housing, and wages.
Each program takes a different approach to farmworker justice and there is room
for each program to learn from others to improve standards, policy, and
enforcement. We recommend two worker-led programs, Agricultural Justice
Project and Fair Food Program, for their strength in key areas as well as for their
involvement of workers in all levels of the program. Two other programs,
Fairtrade International and Equitable Food Initiative are recommended but with
some qualifications. Fair Trade USA and Fair for Life are flagged as programs to
approach with caution as both have some strong standards but weaknesses in
enforcement and governance. Rainforest Alliance is noted as a program
unqualified to ensure farmworker justice.

TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:

Fair World Project 2016 Justice in the Fields: A Report on the Role of Farmworker Justice Certification and an Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Seven Labels

Language: English
Type: Report
Academic Publication: No
Other Info: