Ethical trading on the radar

WA fruit and vegetable growers supplying Coles and Woolworths are being slapped by "ethical trading audits".

The retail giants say the verification of suppliers is important to ensure certain standards are upheld, including the rights of workers, work conditions, freedom of association, wages, discrimination, immigration and health and safety.

Cash-strapped, time-poor producers claim the audits are another layer of paperwork and are unproductive.

Some growers contacted by Countryman said the information collected could be used to discriminate between producers. The growers, who did not wish to be named, said they were being unnecessarily called to account.

However, a Woolworths spokeswoman said the retailer had a responsibility to ensure that its suppliers were meeting certain ethical standards.

"Work relation issues are a lot bigger in other countries; we don't think WA growers will have anything to worry about," she said.

Woolworths started auditing international suppliers more than a year ago, and warned domestic suppliers last year they would also be scrutinised.

VegetablesWA executive officer Jim Turley asked if importers had to meet the same criteria.

WAFarmers director of policy Allan Hill added that producers were already under the pump.

"Australian agricultural workers are some of the highest paid in the world, with some of the best conditions," he said.

"We would like to think that they would spend as much time looking at rates of pay in other countries but our main concern is time and cost imposts of the programs to farmers."

One grower said it was an expensive day when the auditors came onto the farm.

"Growers are already familiar with annual audits to comply with food safety and tractability, so hopefully the new audit scheme will be similar and not too costly," he said.

"As long as they require the same standard on imported goods, that's our main concern."

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