PRESS
 OFFICE

7th April 2008

Visit by Yahya Msangi

Yahya spoke to an audience of over 50 people in Nenagh’s Abbey Court. He represents about 30,000 workers in a range of agriculture and production industries in Tanzania. Members of his union work in tea, coffee, flowers and cotton production.

Yahya expressed his appreciation to the Fairtrade groups and Fairtrade consumers. His clear message was that by buying Fairtrade products, we in the Ireland can make a very significant difference to the lives of people living in less developed countries.

Yahya’s members work on farms and plantations which are covered by Fairtrade standards. As a result his members are guaranteed a minimum wage Health and safety is much better on these farms particularly regarding use of sprays and pesticides. Hours of work are more reasonable. These farms do not use child labour. Women on these farms are treated much better. In many of these industries supervisors tend to be male and the vast majority of workers tend to be female. Yahya said that sexual harassment is much less of a problem on these farms.

The audience were left in no doubt as to the importance of fairtrade and the real benefits that it can bring to the lives of people in less developed countries.

The Nenagh Fairtrade Group thanks Yahya and Emilia Main from the Fairtrade office in Dublin for their presentation to the Nenagh audience. In the coming weeks members of the Nenagh Fairtrade Group will be approaching coffee shops and service stations in Nenagh to encourage them to sell Fairtrade tea and coffee. At present EMO Service Station is the only premises selling 100% Fairtrade coffee.