Oxfam exists to work with, empower and support people to overcome poverty. At the core of all of our work is the protection, respect and safeguarding of human rights.
So, Oxfam has taken allegations regarding fundraising suppliers within the charity sector very seriously.
The potential that people might face unfair or harsh conditions whilst representing Oxfam is unacceptable.
We’ve conducted extensive due diligence of our telemarketing and face-to-face suppliers. We have identified a range of criteria that will be the benchmark for assessing new and existing contracts and we also have our own in-house face-to-face fundraising operation that we plan to expand. We believe transparency is important and we list all of our fundraising suppliers on our website.
While our own examination of Oxfam’s current suppliers has uncovered no issues, we’re going further because we want to build certainty that fundraisers who are representing us are being appropriately rewarded and protected.
We’ve joined with Amnesty International and Greenpeace, and made an application to the Fair Work Commission to have face-to-face fundraising covered by an award to ensure an industry standard is in place and conditions are safeguarded.
In 2017, we will also be moving towards using suppliers that engage workers fundraising for Oxfam under an employment model.
When people have the power to claim their basic human rights, they can escape poverty, and that’s why Oxfam has always advocated in the strongest possible terms for people’s rights at work. We have collaborated with others, including unions, across the world to ensure people are working in safe and fair conditions, have the right to freely form and join unions and to negotiate together to achieve better outcomes. Oxfam will continue to pursue these principles into the future, both in Australia and around the world.
Those who fundraise on behalf of Oxfam are valued workers, who help us carry out the work we do to help the world’s poorest people.
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