Sophia Ostler, Senior Policy Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation said: “At Fairtrade we welcome the dedicated chapters on gender equality, and environmental and labour standards in the Free Trade Deal between the United Kingdom and India. However, it is our view that any commitments made by Governments to international labour standards, must be binding to be truly effective.
We hope that the increased export opportunities this Deal will deliver for Indian producers, will go hand in hand with improved working conditions, incomes and wages for smallholder farmers and workers in India.
And we ask that the expansion of the Indian government procurement market is accompanied by tight public procurement processes and effective human rights and environmental due diligence from all suppliers.“