May 10th
World fair trade day
Every year on the second Saturday of May, we commemorate World Fair Trade Day, which is dedicated to promoting fair trade. This gives the opportunity to growers, craftsmen and employees in the countries of the so-called global South (Africa, Asia and Latin America) to earn a living from their own work under decent conditions.
The World Fair Trade Day is celebrated worldwide since 2002. In the Czech Republic, it has been commemorated since 2004, with the highlight being the Fair Breakfast picnic happening since 2011. The event is organized by volunteers in nearly 200 locations across the country, with over 8,000 people participating. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about the often poor and undignified conditions in which producers of everyday consumer goods live and work, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The main benefits of Fairtrade for farmers include fair payment, the prohibition of child and forced labor, democratic decision-making regarding the Fairtrade premium, and involvement in shaping the Fairtrade system. The FAIRTRADE mark indicates products that meet the social, economic, and environmental standards set by Fairtrade International. By purchasing products with this mark, customers contribute to improving the living conditions of small-scale farmers in developing countries. In addition to fair prices, farmers also receive the Fairtrade premium, which they can use for investments in their farms and communities based on democratic decision-making.
