Summary
The report examines how the Fairtrade Premium contributes to individual workers’ economic well‑being in the Kenyan flower sector, focusing on the level of benefits workers receive, how these relate to living‑wage components, and what shapes workers’ preferences. It uses a mixed‑methods design combining producer‑reported data, quantitative analysis of Premium distributions, and surveys of workers (including gender and migrant‑status self‑identification). The study also applies elements of the Anker living‑wage framework to value both cash and in‑kind benefits, including household goods and worker loans. Results show that Premium benefits contribute meaningfully to workers’ living‑wage needs, with access to finance—particularly through low‑cost loans—emerging as a major source of value, and with notable gender differences in preferred benefit types. The report finds that workers favour a combination of cash, loans, and targeted in‑kind support, and that Premium investment areas reflect both economic necessities and worker priorities. Recommendations include strengthening mechanisms that expand safe access to finance, considering gender‑responsive Premium planning, and improving data systems to capture more detailed Premium use and worker outcomes.