Promoting Women Workers' Rights in African Horticulture

A research, education and advocacy project with Trade Unions and NGOs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia
January 2005 - December 2007

Have you ever stopped to wonder where flowers in our supermarkets come from in the middle of December? How are the shops always full to the brim on Valentine's Day or Mother's Day? Also how can supermarkets reduce prices to £1.99 a bunch and still see them as one of their most profitable items? The truth is that these things are only possible at the expense of the health and dignity of workers in Africa.

How the project started

Flower and vegetable production has become a significant foreign exchange earner in East Africa and the expansion of this sector has produced important employment opportunities: however, the question is has it helped reduce poverty?

In 2003 women from trade unions and NGOs came together to voice their concern about appalling working conditions on flower and vegetable farms exporting goods to the European market. Our project developed from this meeting.

Project aim

The aim of the project is to enable women working on flower and vegetable farms to claim their full rights as workers. Partner organisations will work together to: