In 2021, Workers Rights Watch (WRW) with the support of Women Win through its Building Bridges for Women’s Economic Empowerment (BBWEE) programme, partnered with Laurel flower farm to develop and implement a menstrual health policy, benefiting hundreds of women workers. The farm is located in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, Kenya.
The farm implemented a menstrual health programme where they developed a company Menstrual Health Policy and provided menstrual products to their workers through a partnership with Fairtrade’s premium committee and the farm management. The collaboration, has so far benefited 400 women workers. The programme includes menstrual and health policy, giving women workers a packet of 10 pads each after three months, and a framework that guides the insurance of the sanitary towels.
Prior to the initiation of the menstrual health programme, Workers Rights Watch undertook a needs assessment through the Drawing the Line (DTL) methodology/approach, where they engaged the workers at the farm on the issues affecting them and their priority areas; where menstrual and health training was identified as a priority need by the workers. Drawing the Line (DTL) is a play-based, women-centred methodology which aims at deliberating on the challenges workers face at their workplaces and their priority areas.
The farm agreed to address the menstrual health issue and acted positively by coming up with a menstrual health programme. Between July and October 2021, WRW conducted a menstrual and health trainings at the farm, targeting the workers, gender committee members and management.
The Introduction of the menstrual health policy improved the well-being of women workers at the farm as well as their productivity. Free distribution of pads enabled the workers to attend work without interruptions as they can manage their menses better. It also assisted them in addressing depression that is caused by unexpected menses which sometimes catch them off guard, leading to discomfort, inconvenience and embarrassment. Roll out of menstruation pads has promoted their dignity.
The engagement between WRW and Laurel flower farm demonstrates the importance of promoting cross-sector collaboration amongst the different stakeholders; civil society/women rights organizations, businesses, industry umbrella associations such the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), certification bodies, regulatory agencies, markets amongst others to tackle the sustainability challenges that the floriculture/horticulture sector in Kenya faces.
