Golden Exotics Limited (GEL), a leading banana and pineapple plantation company in Ghana has organised a fair trade awareness ceremony at Kasunya in the Eastern region.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr George Kporye said a total of Gh¢1,712,000 has since been distributed among the 2,200 workers of the company as their Fairtrade bonus for 2015 and 2016.
GEL has been selling banana under the Fairtrade Certification since 2013.
The Fairtrade certification works under a system where designated products are sold under the trademark of the Fairtrade Organisation.
Such products are sold at premium prices with the intention of rewarding producers of those products with the premiums.
To trade with the Fairtrade Mark, a company must satisfy some specific requirements ranging from environmental standards, labour issues ranging from the collective bargaining procedures, the elimination of child labour at the plantation to democratic practices between management and staff at the workplace.
Mr Kporye said GEL subscribed to the Fairtrade certification with the aim of enhancing the socio-economic status of its workers so as to be able to support their livelihoods and empower them economically.
Under the certification, premium is a direct benefit to workers for Fairtrade sales. GEL apart from the direct fairtrade bonus payment to workers, also provide educational support to wards of workers as well as embark on other educational and health projects with the premium from Fairtrade.
Mr Kporye said they have embarked on a number of projects in the education and health sectors which includes, subsidized school fees at the secondary and tertiary level for some wards of employees.
The Vice President for the Fairtrade Premium Committee at GEL, Mr Emmanuel Agbedor said part of the premium was also being used to construct a three-unit Science laboratory facility for the Osudoku Senior Technical School, a six-unit Vocational Training Center for Osuwem community and also a Creche/Nursery and Kindergarten complex for the staff of GEL.
“An allocation has been made to supply portable water to the Kasunya and Nyapienya communities by constructing a bole-hole for them”, he added.
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