How to Improve Fair Trade: #6

6. Working conditions are healthy and safe

Once again, I agree with this principle, and I am concerned that it places more importance on the health and safety of the workplace than in people?s personal lives.  Not all of life is about work.

For example, if an employer is required to make an improvement to her factory, she has fewer resources to spend on her workers.  Her workers will now have fewer resources to improve the condition of where they live.  Often, in low-income areas there is very little access to clean water and the houses have dirt floors.  If the workers had more resources to use in their personal lives, they could improve the conditions around their house and also improve health and safety.