Photo: Tearfund.
God’s word has a lot to say about the need for justice in trade, the need to pay workers fairly and not exploit them to make money. All over our world these biblical values are being ignored. As many people who make the food and clothes we buy are not paid a fair living wage or treated with dignity and respect.
Unfair trade rules
Trade allows the poor to earn their way out of poverty, but the current rules governing international trade prevent them from doing so. Poor countries simply cannot compete with the rich Western nations so unless unfair rules are changed the poor will remain poor.
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana explains it in this way: ‘International trade between my country and the West is like an antelope and a giraffe competing for food which is at the top of a tree. You can make the ground beneath their feet level but the contest will still not be fair.’
Trade rules may be unjust but through fair trade, producers from poor countries are still able to receive a fair wage.
Fair trade
Fair trade ensures a better deal for workers and small scale farmers in poor countries. Farmers are paid a just and stable price for their crops and workers are guaranteed decent and safe working conditions and fair wages. Fair trade producers also receive an additional premium that can be invested in social projects or business development. There are now more than 2000 Fairtrade Mark products in the UK with annual sales running at £100 million. But there is still a long way to go. We need to encourage more people to buy fair trade products and more shops and restaurants to stock them. Tearfund is also encouraging churches to become Fairtrade churches and commit to meeting certain Fairtrade criteria.
What does God think?
Download a student bible study on fair trade to see what the Bible has to say.
Take action
Lift the Label on Food is not just about your personal consumer choices. We need you to be bold in asking your school or university to switch to Fairtrade. Find out how to do this here.
Caterers wanting to switch to Fairtrade can find out how here.
Find out more about Tearfund's trade campaign here.