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The Mother's Fragrances Incense
The Mother's Fragrances and Fair Trade
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade means that
the makers of the products get a fair deal. This includes good wages and
working conditions, freedom from the fluctuations of the market through
advance payment, guaranteed prices and long term trading relations. It
also means that the producers are not forced to mortgage their future
and that of their children through environmentally unsound practices.
All products
sold by Greater Goods Limited originate from the Mother's Commerce Company
in Puducherry, India, a model project where it is shown that it is possible
to produce high quality products under good conditions.
Wages and other rewards
Wages at The
Mother's Commerce Company are above the minumum wage and far above average
for the industry. Wages are also paid during the training period, which
in some units can take up to three months. Workers, 95% of whom
are women, can further benefit from a provident fund. Here the worker puts in 10% of her wage into a savings plan, this amount is then doubled by the company. This savings plan
is released when the person marries or leaves the company. It is usually a large amount of money, and significantly the girls mostly get to keep this money for themselves, whereas their regular wages are often absorbed by household expenses. Workers who
live at a distance from the production units can take part in a bicycle
project. The possession of a bicycle gives women great freedom and independence.
In 2010 we were very happy to help with the financing of the latest round of the bicycle project, when more than 20 ladies received a 'ladybird' bicycle.
some of the employees with their new bicycles
As the bicycles were bought by the company, it was able to negotiate a substantial discount. The ladies will pay for their bicycle in 12 or 24 installments that will be taken out of their monthly wages. The loan is of course interest free, and that makes a happy change from having to go to the moneylender for a large purchase like this!
No child labour
Workers also
benefit from medical insurance. Care is taken regarding sufficient lighting
and ventilation in the places of work. Working hours are limited to 40
hours per week. Needless to say, children are not employed. Every worker
has to bring her birth certificate when applying for work, so that her
age can be verified. Workers are also free to organize themselves within
the units.
A long term friendship
The Mother's
Commerce Company currently employs about 370 people, mainly women. The
Mother's Commerce Company receives help from its Northern counterparts
in the design and development of products. The relations are long term,
spanning over 20 years. Prices to the consumer are kept low in spite of
the higher costs associated with production, because there is no middle-man.
Care for the environment
In the manufacturing
of incense products no toxic materials or processes are involved. Conventionally,
incense sticks are rolled at the homes of workers. They are later dipped
in essential oils, dried and packed in a factory. In this process the
essential oils are diluted with cheap chemicals (to keep the price low).
The result is a dipped incense which is strong and rich in chemicals,
with a heavy fragrance that lingers for a long time and attaches itself
to clothes and curtains. Our incense is hand rolled whereby the essential
oils are included in the dough from which the sticks are rolled. This
eliminates the need to dilute the essential oils with chemicals, and gives
a fragrance which is far superior to that of most dipped incense sticks. It
also creates a healthier work environment for the incense makers.
The above conditions are in stark contrast to the conditions under which millions of people in developing countries work. The excellent conditions under which our products are made and traded have led our recognition as Fair Trade importers by the British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS).
Greater Goods Ltd, 44 Rock Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2AQ
tel/fax: 01761 417040 email: info@greatergoods.co.uk