Fair Trade refers to a social movement that is organised with a market based approach to assist producers in developing nations and encourage sustainability. In this system, workers are provided employment opportunities and living wages for their work.
The artisans or producers work in partnership with International groups that help them develop their skills and market and sell products that could range from crafts to agricultural produce. The Fair Trade movement promotes social and environmental standards and its focus tends to be on exports of handicrafts, coffee, sugar, tea, honey, cotton, wine, flowers etc. from developing countries to developed ones.
Fair Trade goods are required to be certified by bodies like Fair Trade Labelling Organisation and many criteria are required to be met like encouragement of sustainable production techniques; equal employment opportunities for all and forced labour and exploitative child labour being condemned to name a few.
