Decent Work in Flower Farms and Market Opportunities for socially labelled Flowers

Addis Ababa (ILO News): A seminar on “Decent Work in Flower Farms and Market Opportunities for Socially Labelled Flowers” was organised by the International Labour Organisation – Sub Regional Office for Eastern Africa, in collaboration with and the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), at the United Nations Conference Centre on 27 November 2008.

The objectives of the seminar were:

• to sensitize flower farm owners on the elements of the decent work agenda
• to present on market opportunities for socially labelled flowers and
• to discuss its implication for the code of practice. This is based on the new information obtained during the recent study visit to the major flower markets in Europe, namely the Uk, Germany and The Netherlands.

A study that was commissioned by the ILO has revealed that flower farms are at differing levels in the implementation of the national labour proclamation & the decent work agenda of the ILO. The floriculture sector, being in its early stage of development needs to work hard to improve conditions with respect to employment conditions and remuneration, social protection, occupational safety and health, fundamental rights of work and social dialogue.

There is also a notable capacity gap in the federal and regional authorities for fostering strengthened awareness creation activities among key stakeholders and industry players, providing advisory and technical support, as well as developing and implementing the relevant legal and regulatory instruments. Furthermore, there is a need to develop a commonly shared understanding in the sector, on issues related to basic rights, social protection and occupational safety and health and social dialogue.

In light of this, the seminar aimed to create and or increase the level of awareness among participants about what Decent Work is and how employers and economies benefit from implementation of decent work. Participants further discussed existing market opportunities for socially labelled flowers.

Participants of the seminar included owners of eighty flower farms, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ethiopian Employers Federation, Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions, Ethiopian Environmental Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ethiopia Horticulture Development Agency, Forum for Environment, Royal Netherlands Embassy and others.

For further information please contact Mr Shumet Chanie, National Project Coordinator: chanie@ilo.org Mobile: +251 913 313442

For media coverage, interviews and photos please contact Ms Rahel Kebede, Communication focal person in Addis Ababa: rahel@ilo.org Tel: + 251/115/444454 or +251 911 218113.