Oxfam and Fair Pay Foundation sign MoU to transform Bangladesh’s tea sector

In a promising stride towards transforming the tea sector and uplifting the lives of marginalised workers, Oxfam and the Fair Pay Foundation (FPF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Oxford. This strategic partnership seeks to spark a global movement for fairness, ethical business, equality, and justice in labour-intensive industries, beginning with tea plantations in Bangladesh.

The MoU was signed by Sir Sheikh Aliur Rahman KGOR OBE, Ambassador and Chairman of the Fair Pay Foundation, and Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam Bangladesh. The initiative, also endorsed by Dr Halima Begum, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB, aims to establish a Model Tea State that will exemplify fair remuneration, responsible business practices, decent working conditions, climate-smart methods, gender justice, and economic resilience.

The tea industry, long marked by colonial legacies and entrenched discrimination, continues to trap thousands of workers, especially women, in poverty. This collaboration is poised to break that cycle by promoting fair pay, ethical production, and sustainable development throughout the value chain.

Policy makers, business leaders, academicians, and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK gathered at the MoU signing event on 19 May 2025, following the launch of the Oxford Tea Collection.

Sir Sheikh Aliur Rahman described the agreement as "a commitment to restoring dignity, equality, and opportunity for one of the most exploited labour forces in the world." He added, "Together with Oxfam's grassroots empowerment legacy and FPF's vision for radical global fairness, we will co-create a new chapter for tea workers—not only in Bangladesh but as a global model."

The partnership will see Oxfam and FPF implement a detailed roadmap to realise the Model Tea State, including social and power analyses, market assessments, eco-tourism promotion, renewable energy adoption, improvements to housing and healthcare, and strengthened leadership platforms for women workers.

Dr Halima Begum highlighted the collaboration's transformative promise: "Our investment in the Model Tea State demonstrates a future where workers and owners are partners sharing ambitions and values."

The MoU also charts advocacy pathways, including launching the Global Fair Pay Charter in Bangladesh, a five-year media partnership, and engagement with ministries, private sectors, and global markets to foster systemic change.

Ashish Damle affirmed, "Fair pay is not a privilege—it's a right. This partnership enables us to challenge structural inequality and create alternatives rooted in dignity and justice."

Oxfam and the Fair Pay Foundation call upon governments, civil society, and the private sector to join them in turning fairness and equity into living realities for all.