This trade relationship is currently not active.

 

Profile of CONTIGO´s partner Craft Link

Products

• Bamboo place mats
• Cotton and silk scarfs
• Horn items
• Ceramics decoration
• Velvet and silk accessories

Location

Hanoi, Vietnam – distance to Europe: 8,600km

Founded in 1996

History

• 1996: Founding of Craft Link as NGO
• Craft Link has been financially independent and did not receive any subsidies until today
• Craft Link accompanies producer groups on their way to independence
• Focus: employment of people with disabilities, from ethnic minorities and from small enterprises
• 2002: Craft Link has 10 employees
• 2006: CONTIGO contacts Craft Link
• 2008: Relocation of headquarters
• 2010: Increase in employees and affiliated producer groups
• 2012: Employment of three additional people
• Annual salary increase: ca. 15% (depending on inflation)
• 2013: improvement of financial situation due to new customers from North America
• Craft Link supports 4 groups every year, among them one workshop with employees with disabilities (support includes trainings and consulting for 2 years)

Cooperation with CONTIGO since 2006

Structure of the business

Number of employees:

• 30 employees
• 2 part-time employees
• Partnership with 35 producer groups (45% of them belong to ethnic minorities)
• 5000 people are involved in production processes

 

 

 

Organisation of workforce:

• Craft Link (NGO) guarantees:
  • 1. Purchase of production is guaranteed
  • 2. long-term trade relationships with producer groups
  • 3. Financing of orders with 40-70% of total purchase amount
  • 4. Free consulting in regards to design, accounting, quality control, cost and price calculations

• Production of goods in different workshops with continuous quality checks during production
• Shipping of finished goods to Craft Link headquarters in Hanoi
• Craft Link ships goods to customers

Development Section:

• 4 projects per year are selected to receive special support, focus: support of minorities
• Goals: preserving traditional craftsmanship and support of women’s role in society
• Craft Link provides trainings in traditional crafting techniques and cost calculation
• Projects run for 2 years, after which producer groups are supposed to be independent
• Project partners are found through other NGOs, the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi or via other contacts
• Selection process determines who can become project partner
• Financed through donations from international development organisation

Workshops:

Workshop in Thai Binh

• Production of majority of Contigo’s scarfs
• Supervisor: Mr. Do Van Thà
• Employees: 40 people from the village (20 women: weaving and quality checks; 20 men: dye works)
• Since 2000: workshop gets 6 semi-automatic looms (they can be powered with both, electricity and mechanically)
• Workshop is a family business for many generations
• Special feature: many new ideas and innovation

Bamboo weaving mill in Hanoi

• Supervisor: Trang Le
• 10 employees
• 50 weavers that work in the area
• Working hours: 8 hours/day, 6 days/week
• Wage: $250-350/month
• Looms on 2 floors
• Works with Craft Link since 2006

Sales

• Home market (22%) via own shops
• Exports (78%) to Europe, America and Australia

Goals

• To increase incomes
• To increase training capacities (calculation, product development, design, organisation)
• To preserve cultural and craftsmanship heritage

Special features

• Craft Link supports people with disabilities and wants to secure and income for them
• Communal development fund established (pays for medical care of employees and for child care)

Why does CONTIGO work with Craft Link: Craft Link fulfils all Fairtrade criteria and is very professional.

 

Fairtrade classification

FTA = Fair Trade Approved

 

Fairtrade aspects

Craft Link complies with the following Fairtrade Principles:

No child labour

No discrimination

No discrimination due to gender, disability, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political orientation, or infection with HIV

Fair wages

• Average wage in the sector/region: US$ 50/month
• Average wage at Craft Link: US$ 250-350/month
• Wage for beginners in the workshops: US$ 200/month
• Part-time employees receive payment-by-piece
• Monthly salary transferred to employees own bank account
• Holiday bonus
• Quarterly bonus (50% output-related, 50% related to job tenure)
• Craft Link pays:
  • 40% financing upon placing the order
  • 60% of the value upon receiving the order

Humane working conditions

Working hours:

• 8 hours/day
• 1 break
• 5 days/week

Social benefits:

• Social security (22% paid by employer, 5% paid by employee, 2% unemployment insurance) 
• Parental leave: 4 months paid for by health insurance, 4 additional months paid for by Craft Link
• Work clothing provided
• Travel insurance for employees from remote areas
• Free lunch provided
• Paid holidays (12 days annually, increase related to job tenure)
• Continued payment of wage in case of sickness or accident
• Donation to a charitable development fund (for medical support and child care)

Educational opportunities:

• Thorough initial training for all new employees
• Regular courses on work safety and health

Transparency

• Work contracts are available
• Payroll is available
• Pay slips are available
• SAR (Self Assessment Report) was duly submitted to CONTIGO

 

Monitoring

• Personal visits in Hanoi (2010, 2012, 2014)
• Feedback interview during several visits in Germany
• Member of:
  • WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization) since 2002

Country information

See Encyclopaedia Britannica: Vietnam

Photos

Visiting Craft Link