Valentine’s Day is synonymous with red roses! The concept of Valentine’s Day celebration by itself is a relatively recent trend for Indians. The number of red roses that are exported from India to other western countries is far more than local consumption. India’s floral exports have been consistently increasing especially around Valentine’s Day, though we are far from entering the top ten exporting countries.
Columbia, Ecuador and Kenya are the other countries that top the largest flower exporters list after Netherlands. Columbia’s position as the 2nd largest exporter and the many dollars made in sales that seem all too fancy loses its sheen when one finds out the price paid by the people who make it possible. The ugly truth behind the wealth amassed by these exporters remains hidden. Their wealth is made by exploiting women, paying extremely low wages, working them for long hours and systematically abusing labour at every level.
Plane loads of roses, carnations and other flowers are exported out of Columbia every day. Tens of thousands women work up to 16 hours at a stretch under strict supervision to ensure flowers hit the shelf in the UK and other western countries. Almost 70% of the work-force consists of women. Their work begins from as early as 4 am in the morning and goes on even until midnight during peak seasons.
The continuous and repetitive work has resulted in many of the women developing health problems like tendonitis, damage to wrists from cutting flower stems continuously, carpel tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries. For all the effort and long hours of work they are paid such low wages that most often does not cover half their living expenses.
The plain lack of job opportunities in the country leave these women with no other option but put up with the abuse. Despite the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters developing a comprehensive social and environmental certification scheme, the number of flower producers that adhere to it is minimal. There are many entities coming forward to protect the work force and address labour issues, however the reality still seems grim for these women.
Perhaps international consumers must question the origin of the roses this Valentine’s Day.