Why Flowers?

"Africa will continue producing as long as there is demand....and, of course, cheap labour. Therein lies Africa's competitive advantage" - (FloraCulture International: 11/01/2006).  As with many large industries the flower industry relies on cheap labour and, as many of the workers are poor, they have greater risk of exploitation.

59% of flowers we buy in Europe come from Africa and the pressure to keep up a supply of "perfect quality" blooms to fill our supermarket shelves and meet strict production deadlines can have a devastating impact on workers.

• Sexual Harassment: Women workers, who make up the majority of the workforce, are subject to verbal abuse and are offered permanent contracts for sexual favours.
• Lack of Maternity Protection: Women workers are subject to inadequate maternity cover or allowances for childcare protection.
• Low wages: Workers cannot afford to send their children to school or cover health costs. Wages are not paid on a regular basis.
• Exposure to harmful chemicals: Workers are not always provided with protective clothing and in some cases pressured to return to greenhouses during fumigation; companies fail to protect workers from toxic chemicals and other injuries in the workplace.
• Lack of Unionisation: Union activity is discouraged on many farms.
• Forced overtime: Excessive hours and at peak times of high demand; workers can be doing more then 15 hour days often with no break.
• Casual Labour: poor working conditions are heightened by the use of casual labour; this means that workers are unable to complain or speak out about their working condititons for fear of being fired!

Farms have to meet the demand for flowers in European countries, managers are strict and women workers who are considered a cheap, unskilled and disposabl e labour force are the ones who suffer.

Retailers and consumers in the UK have to take responsibility for workers in their supply chain!

Don't accept it: Take Action!

Boycotting is not the answer: The flower industry has grown rapidly in recent years, it provides much needed jobs and vital income for millions of poor people in East Africa and is the second largest foreign exchange earner.

Stopping production would leave thousands without any source of income; what needs to change is the working conditions. All workers should have the rights they deserve irrespective of gender, income or country. Global supply chains and all buyers, retailers and consumers within have the responsibility to make production ethical.

Don't be a 'Slacktivist'- As consumers we should be active and aware in our buying and consumption. You can write to your local supermarkets, florists to demand they change the way they buy flowers from East Africa and protect workers' rights.

Join local campaigns and sign up to newsletters to get in the know and up to date on ethical trading and global news on women's labour rights.

Roots ~ Where do Flowers come from?

An animated Campaign that tells the story of where the flowers you buy come from and the impact that the flower industry has on workers and the environment.