Earth Squared

Earth Squared has been working closely with a fairtrade company based in Northern Vietnam for the past 6 years. They work together to ensure fair trade criteria are embedded into everyday working life. All employees are over 18 years old and paid 4 times the national minimum wage, with working conditions that all abide by fair trade criteria. Due to the success of the workshops, good training opportunities and the company's reputation, there is a waiting list of people wanting to work with the group. The company gives disadvantaged women the opportunity and support to improve their lives through secure work, training and a healthy working life giving them financial security and self confidence. Almost all of the artisans who now work with the company were originally rice farmers, who were previously earning a subsistent, irregular and inconsistent wage. The rice farmers in Vietnam are very dependent on the weather and other environmental factors out of their control. Working from dawn until dusk, the farmers are still unable to earn enough money to feed their families and send their children to school. All of the women working within the co-operative are trained on the job at their workshop in Hanoi. Each person is encouraged to progress and learn new skills so that they can be promoted. The working conditions at the workshops are clean and safe and the staff have regular breaks and days off work. There is flexibility for mothers who breastfeed as well as a system in place for women who are unable to come to work due to a child being ill and off school for example. There is also a small group of women with minor disabilities that been given working opportunities, promotions and a new found confidence.

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