Our Fair Trade Mill
Since inception, we have worked with the same mill, The Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills Pvt. Ltd. Located in Kolkata, India, it currently employs over 1,000 workers. It is independently audited by Fair Trade USA to the highest standards of wage, benefits, safety and work conditions based on internationally recognized SAI’s SA8000 criteria. When you purchase a ‘Fair Trade Certified™’ product, we further contribute 1.5% of it’s cost to a worker managed Premium Fund. These funds supplement wages or are invested in community projects.
Worker benefits include medical insurance, annual bonus, retirement fund, maternity leave and health care, paid vacation and overtime pay. To further promote their well-being in a populous city environment, workers receive daily transportation, housing allowances, subsidized meals, free schooling for children, and interest free loans for unexpected expenses. Strict policies and training also ensure that women have equality and freedom from harassment. Workers have the ability to join trade unions and participate in collective bargaining. An elected Works Committee is set up to conduct grievance and redress processes.
Ongoing job training promotes upward mobility and personal growth. Our mill has also undertaken a leadership role in addressing community issues of poverty and unemployment. An on-site skills development center provides free training in garment production to local youth living below the poverty line. Graduates get a diploma from the government accredited ATDC India which empowers them with career skills.
Management training is provided to ensure non-discrimination, no child labor, and to promote dignity and respect in the workplace and address health and safety issues. A conducive and safe work environment, higher wages, health coverage and social benefits have resulted in a high level of worker satisfaction and low employee turnover of under 2% per year.
“A group of us recently traveled to India to explore the complexities of Fair Trade apparel and organic cotton. I know I am very fortunate to meet the very people who create some of the clothes I wear. I even got a chance to speak with the team member who handled a recent order from Catholic Relief Services.
To those considering business with HAE Now, I can attest that the mill in Kolkata, India is committed to ethical business, safe and dignified working conditions, and improving products and performance for workers and customers. ”
“The mill producing HAE Now apparel was the first in the world to be certified under Fair Trade USA’s innovative standards for Fair Trade Certified apparel. I have visited the mill twice and was struck by the management’s commitment to its workers. Certified to SA8000 and GOTS standards, it recognizes the union membership of its workers, and goes above and beyond Fair Trade standards in some areas by offering subsidized meals, housing and education for its workers and their families. I believe HAE Now and their mill are true pioneers committed to the values and practices of Fair Trade.”
