An Assessment of the Working Conditions of The Floriculture Industry: The Case of Four Flower Farms in West Showa Zone, Oromiya Regional State
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Date
2007-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In the last five years, Ethiopia experienced a floriculture investment boom. The sector is
playing a key role in the national economy of the country especially in securing hard
currency to the nation and creating job opportunities to urban and rural residents.
Nevertheless, the floriculture industry is also known for its poor working condition
worldwide. Considering this, the thesis has an objective of assessing the working
conditions of workers based on a case study of four flower farms in West Showa zone,
Oromiya regional stale and assessing stakeholders ' views, activilies. challenges and
planned activities 10 promote responsible flower produclion 10 Ihe workers. In order to
address this objective the research has employed sample survey of 90 flower farm workers,
depth interview with selected farm workers, supervisors and farm managers, and key
informant discussion with relevant stakeholders. The findings were analyzed using
qualitative and quantilative methods of analysis.The findings revealed that in the farms sludied most workers are non-permanenl which
resull in job insecurity and prevent Ihem/i'om demanding their rig/1Is. The majorily of Ihem
are paid 10,,1 wages which are not enough even for subsistence, most of Ihem are also
denied of sick leave, annual leave, maternity leave and weekly rest days. There is also
discrimination among workers in giving promotion, and also health and safety rules are
not properly implemented and respected in the farm. Similarly, there is dire lack of basic
facilities in most farms studied. Above all basic constitutional and labor rights to OIganize
into trade unions and 10 forward their adminislralive problems of the workers in allfarms
studied are deniedThe study also revealed that relevant slakeholders covered by Ihe study share the view Ihat
the industry is playing pivotal role in reducing unemployment by creating employment
opportunities. At the same time, most of the stakeholders also revealed that the industry
fails to fulfill basic working conditions and violates basic labor rights. To averl this
problem some of Ihe slakeholders have been trying to improve the working conditions in
Ihe flower farms using their capacity and mandate. These include close supervision of the
farms and recommendation on their shortcomings, monitoring the amount and type of the
agrochemicals that is applied in the flower farms, creating awareness on labor rights and
minimum working conditions, developing code of conduct, introducing less toxic pest
control techniques, supporting the establishment of trade unions in the farms and giving
legal aid. Howevel; these stakeholders have been constrained Fom realizing Iheir planned
activities due to poliliccd interferencefi'om higher hierarchy of Ihe governmenl (especially
local labor offices and crop protection departmenl), poor olganizational capacity and lack
of cooperation Fom the inveslors.
Based on the findings the paper concludes thaI the flower farms understudy are for behind
Fom being responsible farms 10 their workers. And Ihe stakeholders have done few
aclivities to promote a socially responsible flower production; but they are leji wilh long
way to go. Finally, the Ihesis recommends Ihaifarms should adopl production ,system based
on the ICC and other flower labels and the local level labor offices ' capacity should be
enhanced and should be able to execute their responsibility Fee Fom political intervention.
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Keywords
Working Conditions of the Floriculture Industry