Fairtrade Mark was set up to strengthen the economic position of disadvantaged producers such as the millions of landless labourers or small farmers. Producers who are sometimes denied what should be their right: enough to feed their families, send their children to school and that little extra to invest in sustainable development.
Clearly, the advantages of international trade are not visible to all people in the world. For small farmers, access to markets and price information is difficult and, as a result, many small farmers become increasingly dependent on middlemen. In bad times, many may lose their only asset: their land and, thus, their livelihoods.
Similarly, many plantation workers do not see the benefits of increasing world trade. Many endure low pay, an unsafe working environment and poor living conditions. Too often they lack the freedom to join a trade union to defend their rights and the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect their lives on the plantation.
