In Fairtrade, workshop plays a vital role in strengthening the certification system among the Fairtrade Certified Hired Labour organizations. By enhancing the knowledge and skills of Fairtrade Officers, it empowers them to uphold and advance Fairtrade standards effectively. Considering this, Fairtrade NAPP funded its 10th program in 2024 to conduct the 13th annual workshop to retain producers in the system. The 13th Annual Fairtrade NAPP-PSR workshop was meticulously designed for Registered Fairtrade Officers and Certification/Quality Officers from Sri Lankan Fairtrade Certified Hired Labour organizations. The primary goal was to enrich their knowledge base and strengthen the certification system within these organizations.
25 Fairtrade officers and four certification sustainability managers participated in this pivotal event. This year’s workshop addressed several critical topics, including gender policy in the industry, grievance handling mechanisms, strategies for addressing climate change and environmental aspects, new HL standards, compliance criteria, and analyzing non-compliances (NCs). Expert insights were provided by resource persons such as 3 lawyers from the Employers Federation of Ceylon, Iresha (Fairtrade NAPP Climate Change focal point), and Arutselvan (Fairtrade NAPP Program Manager).
The workshop began with an overview of objectives and the agenda, setting the tone and expectations for the program. Participants delved into understanding gender, focusing on guidelines to mainstream gender into organizational policy and procedures for plantations in line with ILO guidelines. The importance of having a grievance handling procedure was underscored, followed by guidelines on drafting such procedures. The first day also included sessions on environmental and climate change awareness, emphasizing resilience activities beyond standard requirements.
The second day commenced with a recap of the previous day’s sessions and a Fairtrade informative session. Key discussions revolved around the main changes in the new HL Generic Standards. Participants analyzed recent non-compliance trends and received advisory input through a participatory approach. The agenda also covered an overview of product standards related to HL, the formation of FCC, tasks, terms of reference, and a checklist specific to the Tea Product Standard. Ground challenges related to compliance implementation were thoroughly examined.
On the final day, a recap of the second day’s discussions was followed by a comprehensive overview of the HL Generic Standard and compliance criteria. Participants engaged in discussions on the scoring system for development criteria and items from the jargon sheet. The workshop concluded with an evaluation of the training, collection of feedback, and disbursement of certificates, wrapping up the three-day event on a note of achievement and future readiness.
The workshop was a resounding success in empowering and fortifying Fairtrade Officers, the cornerstone of the Fairtrade system within organizations. By fostering awareness, updating skills, and enhancing knowledge, the workshop facilitated the implementation and perpetuation of a sustainable in-house system. This enabled Fairtrade Officers to excel in their roles with self-motivation and aimed to minimize non-compliance issues during audits. Additionally, the program provided valuable on-the-job training opportunities, ensuring continuous professional development for Fairtrade Officers.
This year’s workshop not only reinforced the commitment of Fairtrade NAPP to support and sustain Fairtrade Certified Hired Labour organizations but also highlighted the resilience and dedication of the participants in navigating and overcoming challenges.
