Fairtrade Africa calls on gov’ts to protect children …from the trappings of COVID-19

Fairtrade Africa (FTA), an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), committed to improving the lot of farmers in 33 countries on the continent, has called on governments, companies and international bodies to invest more resources and provide safe ways to protect children trapped in child labour.

The call, obviously in response to the challenges of the economic downturn arising from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, follows its realisation that the disease is a disaster for millions of children and youth, particularly girls, as the closure of schools would mean that boys and girls are more vulnerable to child labour, should their parents become infected with the virus, and end up assuming greater responsibilities for their family’s survival.

“We must all commit to working together to protect children and rebuilding a more sustainable, fair and inclusive economy in the wake of COVID-19, as millions of children and youth rely on us to act decisively now if the Sustainable Development Goal of ending child labour by 2025 is not to turn into a pipedream,” a statement by the Regional Communications team of Fairtrade has proposed.

According to the statement, several Fairtrade producer organisations have taken steps to tackle child labour by implementing Fairtrade’s Youth Inclusive Monitoring and Remediation system, which has proven to be effective in empowering communities to identify cases of child labour, and in heightening awareness of the risks.

It said the current lack of support from governments or expert agencies means that many of the producer organisations now feel abandoned and powerless if they do find a suspected child labour case, for which they are urgently seeking solutions, and calling upon their governments to support them.

Since Fairtrade cannot replace the role of governments in responding to and remediating cases of child labour, especially the worst forms, let alone solve the problem, it is providing virtual guidance and contacting locally-based child rights NGOs for support to producers wherever possible.

In addressing the long term effects, considering the possibility of the economic downturn driving even more people into poverty, Fairtrade is responding to these challenges in four key ways – by working closely with producer organisations to inform them of the link between child labour and COVID-19, and to heighten their awareness of the risks.

Fairtrade’s COVID-19 guidance document for producers includes advice on protecting both children and vulnerable adults.

In West Africa, Fairtrade certified cooperatives are making use of radio and local community information centres to sensitise communities on the increased risk of child labour and what constitutes hazardous work.

In Sri Lanka and the Philippines, a children’s drawing competition provided two cooperatives the opportunity to engage with farming families and remind them of the COVID-19 risks.

Fairtrade’s new Producer Relief Fund is providing vital funding for producer organisations to invest in the safety and livelihoods of producers and their families to address short and long term needs.

For instance, the organisation is funding temporary payment of wages for suspended workers or emergency healthcare – reducing the risk of children having to work to support their families.

Producer organisations can also use the Fairtrade Premium more flexibly for immediate COVID-19 related needs, it was disclosed.

Food packages have been particularly vital for families where a school lunch was a child’s one meal of the day.

Looking forward, a new Fairtrade Producer Resilience Fund is intended to support longer-term economic interventions, including tailored programmes to address human rights risks in value chains.

In addressing the root causes identified as poverty, exploitation and discrimination, Fairtrade believes the best way to eliminate extreme poverty is to pay farmers and workers a fair price for their crops in West Africa, where many cocoa farmers still earn less than $1.50 a day in the face of the fact that an estimated two million children are in child labour.

It is also working to achieve decent incomes by setting living income and living wage benchmarks, promoting collective bargaining agreements, and protecting farmers from market fluctuations via the Fairtrade Minimum Price.

 

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