Anna Berghäll
Translated by Linus Atarah
To people who know something about the flower industry Kiliflora is almost an unreal place to visit.
The only issue needing rectifying would appear to be the salaries but the company already pays higher salaries than the legally stipulated minimum wage. Women working in the sorting room have no protective gloves but suitable gloves are being procured, according to trade union representatives.
Kiliflora tries to mainly engage permanent workers. Temporary workers are sometimes hired during the peak season; before Christmas, just before Valentine's Day and Mothers' Day. According to general director Nick Stubbs, efforts are put into hiring people from places as close by as possible because otherwise a great majority of the workers would spend a large chunk of their salaries on transport. - At the same time we give something back to this community, says Stubbs.
The trade union at Kiliflora meets every month, with the employer's representative attending the meeting every third month. When a problem arises, according to Stubbs, management tries to co-operate with the union right from the beginning.
Kiliflora's workers receive free medical care and their children get to attend school. There are small clinics on the farms. Mothers are allowed 84 days paid maternity leave, at the end of which they can have annual leave. Nursing mothers are allowed one hour break during working hours to breastfeed. Last year the Women's committee negotiated free medical tests and hospital care as well as tests for other gynaecological illnesses.
Workers are given paid sick leave for six months but after they would receive half salary for another six months. If a family member dies a worker receives one month special condolence leave. It is needed by Tanzanians some of whom still spend several weeks on funeral rites according to traditional customs. In addition relatives receive a little monetary gift and compensation on transportation costs to the funeral.
Working time is 45 hours for a week of six days. Over-time is paid one-and-half times the wage or in lieu, commensurate free time that must be taken during the same week. Workers take one-and-half hour's lunch break and meals are provided by the employer. Football and volley ball facilities are provided for physical exercises.
The required protection gear is used at every stage of the production process. The workers who spray insecticides do it in turns: one month spraying, another performing a different task. Spraying is done for a maximum of four hours at a time. Workers who handle insecticides go for blood tests every three months. Kiliflora is also working on alternative methods of pest control, for instance biological pest control.
Eighteen years is the minimum age for workers on Kiliflora farms. According to Kiliflora's staff policy, everyone has equal employment opportunity regardless of ethnic background, religious belief, physical disability or political inclination. HIV/AIDS tests are not conducted during recruitment.
Kiliflora has been producing fair trade roses for three years. Fair trade bonuses paid by Max Havelaar have been used to establish seed nurseries for economic crops, planted forest trees for fighting erosions as model for the villagers, constructed a well from which 2600 families acquire potable drinking water, paid for ten roofing sheets for every Kiliflora worker, etc.
- There is no limit to what we can do, says general director Stubbs.
Such a situation only exists on two flower farms in Tanzania. Conditions on other farms are nearly the complete opposite.
