ETHICAL TRADING POLICY

CHILD LABOUR
To the best of our knowledge the products we sell have been manufactured using no child labour. We support the long-term objective to eliminate child labour. This is consistent with ILO Convention 138 as the international standard concerning the employment of anyone under 18 and ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.
Should any of our producers be found to be using child labour, we will suspend commercial dealings with them, at least until we are satisfied that the situation is satisfactorily resolved. We will prefer to work with our suppliers and will not terminate contracts if doing so would be detrimental to the communities involved.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Our goods are sourced direct from the craftspeople or organisations formed to represent them. Most of our products come from India and Bangladesh. Working conditions in the craft industries in the developing world are very different from those we are used to in the developed world. However, we are committed to only dealing with producers with reasonable working conditions. We will not deal with any producers who engage in forced labour or provide inadequate working conditions.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: From which countries are your products imported?
A: Bangladesh, India and Malaysia.

Q: How have you sourced your suppliers?
A: During visits to the region we have visited a number of suppliers and seen at first hand how the products are made. Our products have been made by a small number of highly skilled people who have been selected for their design flair and consistent quality. We have made sure to buy mainly from Co-operatives or NGO organisations representing the craftspeople and ensuring that prices paid are fair.

Q: What are the working conditions of your suppliers.
A: The working environment is very basic compared to what we are used to in the developed world. However, we are satisfied that the working conditions are adequate and as to be expected for craft industries in this part of the world.

Q: What is your attitude towards children working at home, side by side with other family members? Aren’t they better off than child workers in factories?
A: It is legal for children to work in the home, as long they attend school full-time and are not working against their will. But sometimes they are worse off. It is easier for inspectors to enforce fair labour standards in a factory setting than in the privacy of people’s homes.

Q: Do any of your suppliers use child labour?
A: To the best of our knowledge the products we sell have been manufactured using no child labour. We support the long-term objective to eliminate child labour. This is consistent with ILO Convention 138 as the international standard concerning the employment of anyone under 18 and ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

Q: Are your products Fairtrade?
A: No. The Fairtrade mark does not yet cover the products we sell. According to the Fairtrade Foundation it takes much time and money to develop criteria to ensure that new Fairtrade products really will benefit producers. The initial focus of Fairtrade was on agricultural commodities, such as tea and coffee, which have the most widespread impact on the livelihoods of small producers in the developing world. More products are following year by year. Over the next couple of years it is likely that there will be Fairtrade rice, cotton and a variety of fair-trade fruit in the shops.
Fairtrade product categories to date are : bananas, citrus fruit, coffee, tea, mangoes, sugar, fruit juice, honey, snacks, chocolate, and cocoa, roses, footballs, wines and beers.

Q: What are you doing to help?
A: We will make direct donations of money and materials raised from initiatives in the UK as well as the profits of the company to charitable organisations operating in the producers communities. We will target aid on educational and health schemes mainly for children.