How fair is Fairtrade?
We have visited two of South Africa’s Fairtrade wine projects. There is no question that some great things being done for the workers and the community and most importantly they are ensured a living wage. However there are also questions about the cost incurred by audit and licence fees and how much of the Fairtrade premium gets through to where it is needed. Again, it’s a complex issue. Our conclusion is that it is better to buy Fairtrade than not buy Fairtrade, but that we should not ignore the other estates who are also paying their workers fairly and looking after their welfare.
