Small farmers and plantation workers are among the poorest worldwide and, despite hard work, are only just above the border to absolute poverty. The children work in many families. The children are particularly threatened by child labor. The parents only find work for a few days and often have to fulfill such a chord that children have to work. Employers refuse any social security, such as health or accident insurance. The families move from one job to the next. Hiking workers and their families are rarely registered at their work locations. In this way, farmers and municipalities do not feel responsible, for example for health care or the children's school attendance.

Adults and children who work in conventional agriculture are often exposed to toxins. Plants are sprayed several times a season without protecting protection measures for workers. Agriculture is a main driver for the global loss of biodiversity and is responsible for about a third of the entire greenhouse gas emissions . Non -sustainable intensive agriculture, factory farming, the conversion of forest into arable land (for example for the cultivation of soy and palm oil) lead to massive ecological damage.

Fair trade offers coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate. About 70 percent of fairly traded coffees, teas and chocolates are also biologically grown. Fair trade supports small farmers and plantation workers who adhere to basic labor rights and grant social security. Fair trade continues than the social seal. 

Higher prices and a surcharge enable the payment of fairer wages and the structure of important infrastructure, such as health stations and schools. This is how fair trade has a double act against child labor. Parents who earn enough do not have to send their children to work. And the controllers of the certification organizations ensure that employers also go along and do not employ children.