How will a new supermarket Code and Ombudsman help poor people overseas?
Supermarkets will be encouraged to sign up to the new Grocery Code of Practice which will lay out standards and rules that they should follow. If they stick to these standards and rules it will minimise bad practice and mean farmers and workers overseas will benefit from better working conditions and terms of employment. This could make a dramatic difference to their standard of living and ability to plan for the future provide for their children. The new Code and Ombudsman will also prevent supermarkets from exploiting their UK suppliers. The terms of reference for the Ombudsman are still being refined but its role would be to oversee the Code and deal with complaints which suppliers would be able to make in confidence. Traidcraft also believe it should have the power to fine supermarkets that are found guilty of violating the Code. The Ombudsman should act as a powerful deterrent. And it would mean that for the first time, suppliers who feel they have been exploited could raise the i
