EQUITABLE

The equitable trade is a commercial partnership and a social movement which aims to the improvement of the right and the conditions of trade of the marginalized workers, in particular within the framework of the North-South international exchanges. It relates to the farming community particularly as a whole (food production, raw materials, craft industry).

The step of equitable trade consists of a class action suit of organization of new ways of production and distribution for the international market, based on social norms, economic and environmental clean, not requiring the intermediary of the States and the modification of the national legislations.

Holding of the equitable trade make promotion of the democracy, the transparency and the respect of the human rights, around objectives defined by the producers, of which prices of production determined not only by the economic costs, but by also taking into account the human, social and environmental production costs.

A panoply of groups and national associations and international make the active promotion of the equitable trade, in particular association FLO (Catholic aid.

In 2006, the equitable product sales certified were estimated at more 1,609 billion euros, an increase of 41 % compared to the previous year. It is estimated that nearly 1,5 million producers and underprivileged workers profit directly from the equitable trade.

“The equitable trade is a commercial partnership founded on the dialogue, the transparency and the respect, whose objective is to arrive to a greater equity in the world commerce. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better commercial conditions and by guaranteeing the rights of the producers and the marginalized workers, particularly in the South of planet. The organizations of the equitable trade (supported by the consumers) are actively committed to support the producers, to sensitize the opinion and conducting campaign in favour of changes in the rules and practices of the conventional international business.”

The equitable trade prescribes 10 standards that its holding as well in North as to the South must apply daily in their work. In the case of members IFAT or of certified groups FLO, various control systems are in place in order to make sure that these standards are respected.

1. To create opportunities for the producers who are economically in situation of disadvantage. The equitable trade is a strategy for the combat against poverty and the bearable trade. Its goal is to create opportunities for the producers handicapped or marginalized by the system of the conventional trade.
2. Transparency and credibility. The equitable trade includes/understands the management of the transparency and the commercial relations to make deals with our business partners.
3. Individual capacity. The equitable trade is a means of developing the autonomy of the workers. The organizations of the equitable trade get continuity during which the producers and the organizations of market can improve their capacities of management and their access to the new markets.
4. To promote the equitable trade. The organizations of the equitable trade aim to sensitize their customers as well as the general public with the injustices of the current commercial system. They must also be able to provide information on the origin of its products, the work conditions of producers etc
5. The payment of a price right. A price right in a local or regional context is accepted after dialogue and dialogue. That covers not only the production costs but also allows a production which is socially right and well for the environment. That provides a price right to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal wages for an equal work by the men and the women. The organizations of equitable trade ensure an immediate payment their partners and sometimes help their producers with the financing of a credit before harvest or the production.
6. Equality enters the sexes. The organizations from the equitable die develop the work of the women: those must always be paid for their contributions in the production process. The presence of the women within the governorship of these organizations is also encouraged.
7. Work conditions. The equitable trade means a healthy and sure work environment for the workers. The participation of the children (if ever) negatively does not affect their wellbeing, their safety, their conditions educational, and their need to play and is in conformity with the convention of the United Nations on the laws of the children like to the laws and standards of the country.
8. Child work. The organizations of the equitable trade respect the convention of the United Nations on the rights of the children, like laws and social norms are applied in order to ensure that the participation of the children in the production processs of the equitable products does not go á the opposition to their wellbeing, their safety, their educational conditions and need to play. The organizations which work directly with abstract organizations reveal the participation of the children in the production.
9. Environment. The equitable trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of methods responsible for production.
10. Relations of trade. The organizations of equitable trade make trade by taking account of the wellbeing social, economic and environmental of the small marginalized producers and do not make profit behind their back. They maintain long relations which rest on confidence and the mutual respect which contribute to the promotion and the enlarging of the equitable trade. Sometimes the producers are supported by appropriations before harvest or the production.