Fashion Revolution - RIGHTS

April 17, 2021

Worker Rights

We would like to share more about how we work and our policies around worker rights, all of which involve ensuring equitable relationships, transparency and safe working conditions.

 

Mehera Shaw is dedicated to hiring artisans from disadvantaged and marginalized communities for the positions of stitching, block printing, and all other related work within our garment and homewares production. 

 

Ensuring equality in the workplace starts at the very beginning of the relationship with every worker during the hiring process. All terms and conditions of employment are made transparent and clearly communicated at the time of hire.  The company holds itself accountable for its end of the agreement, attested by external audit.  Terms and conditions are the same for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, caste, creed, sexual orientation, or health status.

Transparency, accountability, equitable terms, and clear communication are at the core of the of the relationship.  The goal is always to maintain a positive, sustainable working relationship to the benefit of all and for the greatest good.  We provide regular training sessions on the standards of fair trade, on financial management, and life skills management to ensure artisan workers are best able to effectively manage their work, finances and, life goals.

At the time of hiring, new employees are given a 3 month trial period before signing a permanent contract.  The contract includes full details regarding salary, time and method of payment, benefits, bonuses, hours, conditions, annual salary increases.  The contract is in Hindi, the language our employees speak. If an employee is not literate, it is explained verbally.

Mehera Shaw provides a Worker Manual available to all employees, and its contents are explained verbally to everyone.  Mehera Shaw promotes a work environment of harmony and cooperation and does not tolerate harassment or abuse between any workers or between management and workers. The Manual clarifies our commitment to nondiscrimination, no harassment, no forced labor, no child labor, clean and safe working conditions.  It also explains the process of addressing issues or complaints in a transparent and protected manner. We hold weekly meetings with our full staff to discuss standards of fair trade, aspects of worker contracts, offer help with finances, and support with banking, pension funds, health insurance. 

 

All workers must be employed by their own free will and have freedom of association. A Right to Free Work and Freedom of Movement Statement is included in the worker manual and posted in the workshop in Hindi and English and explained verbally in Hindi.

A worker's employment is strictly voluntary and not agreed to upon any threat of penalty, debt or obligation. Pay, benefits, or documents are never held by the business in order to force continued employment. There are no restraints on workers' freedom of movement related to toilet use, access to water, access to necessary medical attention or access to religious facilities.

 

Regular attendance to work, punctuality, and consistent rules around work hours are important factors in creating success for each artisan business. When hiring a worker, the expectations of their work hours and specific company policies around work hours are clearly communicated. Working hours are standardized and clear so that workers always know what is expected of them and are clear that management holds itself to the same expectations.

 

Wage calculations and fair compensation is discussed directly with workers and explained verbally to all workers. Upon hire, every worker should understand how much they will be paid and how these wages may change based on their hours. A written, standardized policy provides clear expectations for wages.  Management provides regular financial planning assistance to all employees based on cost of living data.

 

The use of child labor is strictly prohibited at Mehera Shaw and all possible actions will be taken to prevent it from occurring. The minimum hiring age is 18 years old.  No workers below the age of 18 are allowed to work at Mehera Shaw.  The age of all workers must be verified prior to hiring by means of authentic government identity cards or other proof of age documents including birth certificate, national identity card, driver’s license or voting registration card. Proof of age verification is kept on file for each worker for the length of their employment.

 

We work on a daily basis to ensure all standards are maintained.  This post is intended to give further insight into all the pieces of labor standards.  It does take a group effort, training, commitment.

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

---

Also in Journal