Sara Mayo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3714
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posted 12 February 2004 05:21 PM
Oxfam has launched an awareness campaign about the working conditions of flower workers:
quote:
Most of the cut flowers sold in Canada come from South and Central America, where women do the weeding, plant tying, pruning, cutting, picking and packing.
- Many of them work excessive hours for poor pay.- They are exposed to dangerous chemicals, without proper safety equipment.
- And theymust put in up to eight hours daily of overtime, especiallyin the run-up to Valentine's Day.
In Colombia over 70,000 workers, 70% are women, pick flowers for an hourly pay of less than $1.00 - less than the cost of one rose - and now they face a pay cut.
- New labour laws allow growers to pay overtime only for work after 10 pm, to pay less for work on Sundays and holidays, and less when they fire someone.
Instead of urging Canadians to skip flowers this Valentine's, they are encouraging us to buy flowers ("poor women need their jobs!") and give this card to our florist.
From: "Highways are monuments to inequality" - Enrique Penalosa | Registered: Feb 2003
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