Fair and empowering jobs

Since the foundation of Kaiko, our dream and goal has been to enable production also in the so-called risky countries of the textile industry. Our dream came true in 2020, when we united with Store of Hope, which has been working in Nepal for a long time, and whose products and partnerships now continue in Kaiko.

We ended up with production in a risky country, because we want to act responsibly and enable good and fair jobs in countries where they are especially needed. It is especially important to us that there is responsible production and therefore fair jobs in developing countries. Women's workplaces in particular change communities for the better from the grassroots level.

Nepal and its people have completely stolen our hearts. Although there are indeed many challenges in Nepal, being one of the poorest countries in Asia, we know that we can make real positive change that really matters.

The effects of corona have been seen in Nepal, especially in employment, and the unemployment rate in Nepal has almost doubled during the corona period. Especially for women , good and responsible jobs are very important, because otherwise they are at great risk of being exploited, victims of human trafficking or modern slavery. (Global Slavery Index) It is estimated that 50 women and girls from Nepal are trafficked across the border into India every day. In addition to this , in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal alone, around 12,000 women and girls work as dancers, cheerleaders and masseurs, whose job description often includes forced sexual services. According to estimates, more than half of these women and girls have also started working as minors. ( Nigam, 2018 / International Labor Organization)

It is precisely for these reasons that we want to employ especially women in Nepal, so that we can enable a better future for them and their children. Social responsibility is the core of Kaiko's operations, and that's why we want to influence the textile industry's problems in developing countries. The manufacture of Kaiko's products currently employs around 30 people in Nepal, and the number grows every year as we expand our production.

Sources:

1. Nigam, 2018: https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/50-women-from-nepal-are-trafficked-to-india-every-day-1357737-2018-10-07

2. International Labor Organization: https://www.ilo.org/kathmandu/areasofwork/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm

3. Global Slavery Index: https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/data/country-data/nepal/