We are a fair-trade supplier and manufacturer that was founded in 1992 on the pillar of respect for workers’ rights. Even before fair trade became fashionable, we were a production house paying fair wages, providing safe working environments and respecting the individuality of artisans – all because it was and is the right thing to do.
In order to take our commitment one step further, we are now Guaranteed Members of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). Fair trade manufacturers, suppliers and production houses around the world can apply to be members of this vetting organization to engage in the fair-trade community. After years of monitoring and making improvements in our company structure we are proud to have achieved the status of Guaranteed Member.
Our commitment to fair trade manufacturing can easily be seen in the wages we pay our artisan partners, since they are paid at least four times the national minimum wage. As a fair-trade supplier, we engage in open dialogue with all of our workers concerning wages and piecework payment. Our fair wages are based on the local living wage standards as proposed by the WFTO. The workers always receive 50% of their payment upfront.
We also abide by and exceed the stringent labor laws in Bolivia. All full-time employees receive health insurance benefits and the equivalent to social security. Each of our 200-300 artisan workers receives a generous monetary bonus as well as a gift at the end of each year.
With respect to how we treat our employees in general, we know we must be doing something right as most people have been working with us since the beginning – over 25 years!
