Meltatox

In my opinion.

Kenya Flower Industry Compliance

It is good to give credit to where credit is due. And this is where Kenya flower industry comes in. With the myriad of both public and private tools governing regulation of the Kenya floriculture industry, the industry have heeded to implementation of the realm of labour standards, protection and stewardship of natural resources.

The industry courtesy of Kenya Flower Council has done a lot in relation to creating responsible growers. Though still a lot need to be done, the sector has gone up and bound in implementation and into compliance with issues of labour rights, environmental standards, climate change and economic development. This has seen above more the creation of multi-stakeholder sector code; the Kenya Standard on Social Accountability and a Voluntary Private Initiative.

Workers in the industry have something to smile about, for there are now more permanent contracts, establishment of worker welfare and gender committees, better provision of protective equipment, stricter pesticide controls and extensive improvements in housing. Furthermore, more women now have access to day-care facilities and there is general acceptance that pregnant women should have light duties.

Most encouragingly is that, creation of Kenya’s code has set a benchmark for other standards like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). It has also inspired complementary programmes like The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative, part of the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), which aims to accelerate and up-scale sustainable trade by building impact oriented coalitions of front running multinationals, civil society organisations, governments and other stakeholders.

 

Hortfresh Journal
September - October 2012

Caro

By Joseph Karanja
Editorial Team
Hortfresh Journal

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