Projects - Ethical Business Solutions

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) engaged IRFT in developing monitoring instruments and pilot field audits for two years for Syngenta Seeds Inc. for the okra crop in Gujarat. Post audit, various remedial strategies on Labour Monitoring of the agricultural sector were discussed in a consultation workshop in Hyderabad in December 2008. Syngenta then approached IRFT to help build capacity of their staff and farmers/ growers in social compliance (FLA- COC) in the three states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. IRFT developed creative communications tools to motivate staff, farmers, and organizers of the Syngenta seed production business.

Working conditions in textile, clothing, and leather industries are all too famous for often running under conditions breaching minimum social standards as a whole. In many garment and sport-shoes producing countries, the organized Civil Society generally supports initiatives from Northern Countries organisations aiming to back local undertakings with a view to make social conditions improve. However, the Southern organisations quite rightly consider that initiatives emanating from foreign countries are not to be used as an alternative to substitute for their legitimate role.

That’s why the Collective De l’ethique sur l’etiquette is in the process of in-depth dialogue with such organizations to make expertise sharing fulfill expectations. As part of this work the collective engaged IRFT to carry out a survey in India. This survey was aimed at collecting analysis and recommendations from various Indian partners.

International trade in high-value food products such as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, fish, meat, nuts and spices has expanded enormously in the last twenty-five years. However, there is also an increase in the consumer concern about food safety due to the recent food scares regarding contamination of food with banned dyes, chemicals, pesticides and the links between animal and human disease. This has led to stringent product regulations and additional quality requirements, which are not necessarily required under the law but are being imposed by the buyers.

FAKT Germany, with its experience in the field of designing and conducting food quality management coursers in collaboration with IRFT India, Traidcraft Exchange UK, envisaged a project to build capacities in the food industry to establish suitable food safety and quality management systems that strengthen the export capacities of the Indian SMEs.