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to do that, changes” and efforts have to be made (Lagarde 2017 – my emphasis).
This can be heard as a call for socio-economic responsibility and sustainable
development.
The SDGs constitute a valuable guide to addressing those left behind, and the 17
SDGs capture several aspects that can be considered essential for global well-being.
In line with those concerns, it can be seen that the fair trade movement has already
started connecting many of the dots. In this case, perhaps the “effort” suggested by
the fair trade movement is that “getting products cheaply” cannot be maintained at
the expense of the 3.6 billion people who require the same decent work conditions,
stable source of income, food security and living standards improvements as everybody else in society. Considering this, the standards for production and consumption need to be raised to attend social responsibility requirements and not only to
assure cheapest prices. Sustainability certification schemes such as Fairtrade propose ethical standards for production and trade to progress the economy through
assurance of decent work conditions while respecting human rights and the environment. Fairtrade is the trademark of Fairtrade International, also known as FLO
(Fairtrade Labelling Organisation), the first fair trade certifier that established the
standards in 1988. This model has been reproduced by several fair trade organisations thereafter, following closely or not the standards, principles and values of
fairness in trade. Fair trade is used in this study to refer to the movement in general,
not alluding to any specific organisation. Fair trade “draws explicitly on civic values
and qualifications in promoting labor rights” (Riisgaard 2015, p. 124). Work, health
and safety standards are required for fair trade certification within an ambitious
agenda that is consistent with the SDG 8. As such, this chapter addresses economic
growth and decent work and its links to sustainable development actions through
case studies centred around the fair trade initiative – a market solution which links
developed and developing economies through production and trade based on market
good practices. Fair trade can be understood as an emerging “response to the negative effects of globalization” (Murray and Raynolds 2007, p. 4), not as a mere “antiglobalization” but as a “new globalization” (Murray and Raynolds 2007, p. 6).
In its 30 years of existence, fair trade has called attention to the old economic
assumption of lowest prices being a priority, which has ensured poverty for many
working people given the slavery-like work conditions practised in the search for
profit maximisation. The practice of lowering costs at any price, with no respect for
human rights or labour policies, is addressed by the Fairtrade standards with stringency and transparency, following the ILO conventions for good working conditions, described below. Among the initiatives to demonstrate the global emergence
of the SDG 8, this study focuses on fair trade food production which constitutes an
inclusive decent work opportunity for rural and remote areas within the Global
South, and a potential driver of economic growth.
Hence, to assure the orientation that “the 50% of the global economy” (Lagarde
2017) must be included as more than a mere rhetoric, perhaps efforts also need to be
made regarding changing the assumptions that classical economic models rely
upon. This means to assure the 50% of the global economy left behind – by policies
and decision makers – progress, efforts must also be made by those who are
9 SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
to do that, changes” and efforts have to be made (Lagarde 2017 – my emphasis).
This can be heard as a call for socio-economic responsibility and sustainable
development.
The SDGs constitute a valuable guide to addressing those left behind, and the 17
SDGs capture several aspects that can be considered essential for global well-being.
In line with those concerns, it can be seen that the fair trade movement has already
started connecting many of the dots. In this case, perhaps the “effort” suggested by
the fair trade movement is that “getting products cheaply” cannot be maintained at
the expense of the 3.6 billion people who require the same decent work conditions,
stable source of income, food security and living standards improvements as everybody else in society. Considering this, the standards for production and consumption need to be raised to attend social responsibility requirements and not only to
assure cheapest prices. Sustainability certification schemes such as Fairtrade propose ethical standards for production and trade to progress the economy through
assurance of decent work conditions while respecting human rights and the environment. Fairtrade is the trademark of Fairtrade International, also known as FLO
(Fairtrade Labelling Organisation), the first fair trade certifier that established the
standards in 1988. This model has been reproduced by several fair trade organisations thereafter, following closely or not the standards, principles and values of
fairness in trade. Fair trade is used in this study to refer to the movement in general,
not alluding to any specific organisation. Fair trade “draws explicitly on civic values
and qualifications in promoting labor rights” (Riisgaard 2015, p. 124). Work, health
and safety standards are required for fair trade certification within an ambitious
agenda that is consistent with the SDG 8. As such, this chapter addresses economic
growth and decent work and its links to sustainable development actions through
case studies centred around the fair trade initiative – a market solution which links
developed and developing economies through production and trade based on market
good practices. Fair trade can be understood as an emerging “response to the negative effects of globalization” (Murray and Raynolds 2007, p. 4), not as a mere “antiglobalization” but as a “new globalization” (Murray and Raynolds 2007, p. 6).
In its 30 years of existence, fair trade has called attention to the old economic
assumption of lowest prices being a priority, which has ensured poverty for many
working people given the slavery-like work conditions practised in the search for
profit maximisation. The practice of lowering costs at any price, with no respect for
human rights or labour policies, is addressed by the Fairtrade standards with stringency and transparency, following the ILO conventions for good working conditions, described below. Among the initiatives to demonstrate the global emergence
of the SDG 8, this study focuses on fair trade food production which constitutes an
inclusive decent work opportunity for rural and remote areas within the Global
South, and a potential driver of economic growth.
Hence, to assure the orientation that “the 50% of the global economy” (Lagarde
2017) must be included as more than a mere rhetoric, perhaps efforts also need to be
made regarding changing the assumptions that classical economic models rely
upon. This means to assure the 50% of the global economy left behind – by policies
and decision makers – progress, efforts must also be made by those who are
9 SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth