Flowers that bloom Exploitation

When I purchase flowers, I only think of the smile it will bring to the receivers face, not the agony the same flowers may have caused someone. Within the area of Colombia, a woman describes her view as a flower picker discussing the conditions and health hazards. Being the second largest country who exports flowers, Columbia has its issues. Environmental issues are present. Although jobs have been created within the flowers trade, the wages that a flower picker receives for the day are less than the common bundle of flowers purchased here in the United States. Carcinogens that have been restricted for health reasons in the United States are used to produce these flowers in Columbia. Women workers have testified that they do not have sufficient protective clothing to carry out their duties. The exposure within the flower industry creates crave health risks to its employees. “Colombian law provides wide-ranging maternity rights and social welfare rights, these count for nothing in the greenhouse economy” Efforts are being made to assist with the conditions, but the Colombian government fails to enforce basic labor rights. “In many ways Colombia is a microcosm of globalization applied to flowers.” When I also think of the word exploitation, flowers don’t even come close, but the treatment of these workers under these conditions, isn’t called for.
International trade isn’t as pretty as the flowers we see in the market. One would think that by being the second largest exporter of flowers, Colombia would have a different set of rules in regards to production of flowers and treatment of its workers. In regards to flowers, I’m not trying to stereotype anyone, but in Colombia, women are the primary workers within the flower trade. I don’t think occupational mobility is a factor within the flower system, although those who join unions or become pregnant are treated un-fairly. Although, flower factories, created thousand of jobs, the women who worked the flower fields, receive a small salary which mostly likely results in relative deprivation for them. Exposure to various hazardous chemicals with insufficient protective gear creates health problems for all. Some may argue that flower workers, could be considered scapegoats. I’m at a lost at why the government doesn’t tighten the rules on the treatment of these individuals as this country is a large producer of the flowers we may purchase in the store. In my opinion: It takes awareness of any issue for it to be truly brought to light, someone has to speak out, otherwise conditions may worsen, the way things are going in this world today. I will do more research on this topic and look for an update on this topic to my blog by 06 JAN 2009. For now if you’re looking at purchasing flowers in the near future, please think twice.


Reference Below:
Article Titled: “Deadly Blooms: Colombia's flower industry is based on the exploitation of women workers”
Date of publication: August 29, 2001
Source: The Guardian
olombia's flower industry is based on the exploitation of its women workers
By Kevin Watkins