This trade relationship is currently not active.

 

Profile of CONTIGO´s partner Kandygs

Products

Bags, accessories and soft toys made of cotton

Location

Maharagama, Sri Lanka – distance to Europe: 8,000km

Founded in 1971

History

• 1971: founded by Sita Yahampath (physics teacher, 4 children) and husband Felix
• Decide to call company Kandygs (a word made up of the initial letters of the names of the family names)
• Start of textile production with 10 loaned hand looms and 15 untrained employees without experience in the textile industry
• 1974: purchasing of own looms and own production spaces in Maharagama
• Initially sale of products on the local market
• 1976: first store in Colombo opens its doors
• 1976: amount of looms increased from 10 to 25
• 1980: second store opened up in Colombo
• 1980: first contacts with European firms are established, amount of looms increased to 50
• 1980: orders delivered to Norway
• 1983: war in Sri Lanka starts, Norway imposes an embargo, exports to Norway impossible which is a big loss for Kandygs
• 1985: first visit of international fairs Inter Deko and Heimtextil
• 1990: additional production site is built in Padukka, not also hand looms but also industrial looms are used
• 2007: daughter Anuradha Yahampath takes over the graphic design lead after finishing her studies in graphic design in the UK and working there for 4 years
• 2010: 400 employees

Cooperation with CONTIGO since 2009

Structure of the business

Number of employees:

• 200 well-trained employees (mainly women, 1st workshop: 120 employees, 2nd workshop: 65, 15 employees in sales)
• 200 employees work at home in the region Kalmunai

Organisation of workforce:

• 5 departments
• Employees that work at home are trained in the main workshop in Maharagama and get looms and raw materials from Kandygs
• Kandygs picks up finished products
• If necessary financing can be arranged
• Regular meetings amongst management staff
• Annual meeting of all employees

Work environment:

• Workshops: 2 (one in Maharagama and another one in Padukka)
• Kandygs stores: 4 (3 of them in Colombo)
• Facilities

1. 200 hand looms
2. 30 industrial looms
3. 50 sewing machines
4. Dyeing workshop
5. Cotton printing machine
6. Free hostel for employees with long commutes (45 beds, kitchen including cook)

Sales

• Home market (65%)
• Exports (35%) to Germany, Japan, UK, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Mexico, France, Greece, Maldives

Goals

• To improve living standards in the region
• To invest in the skills and education of the employees
• To protect the environment and promote sustainability, motto: “Recycle, reuse and remake”
• To refurbish the headquarters
• To improve ventilation in the workshops

Special features

Why does CONTIGO work with Kandygs: Good, personal relationships are established. Environmental commitment, high-quality products and social commitment all come together in Kandygs.

 

Fairtrade classification

FTP = Fairtrade in Progress, a visit in Sri Lanka has not taken place as yet.

 

Fairtrade aspects

Kandygs 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

• The employees are of different ethnic origins and have different religious backgrounds

Fair wages

• Average wage of weavers in Sri Lanka: RS 6.700/month (RS=Rupees)
• Wage at Kandygs:
  • RS 5.000/month in first month
  • RS 8.000/month from the second month
  • From 4th month: wage can increase to anywhere between RS 10.000 to RS 15.000/month  depending on work performance
• Monthly payment in cash
• Bonus system (10% wage increase for high quality)

Humane working conditions

Working hours:

• 8 hours/day
• 5 days/week

Social benefits:

• Paid holidays
• Health insurance
  • Insurance covers costs for medical treatments, accidents and funerals
  • Employees pays share of RS 50, rest paid for by Kandygs
• Pension fund for all employees (EPF=Employees Payment Fund)
• 12% of salary paid for by Kandygs
• 11% of salary paid for by employee
• Can be paid out in advance in case of special occurrences (e.g. weddings)

Educational opportunities:

• Intensive initial training
• Regular external trainings are offered to employees

Transparency

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

 

Monitoring

• Feedback interview during several visits in Germany

 

Country information

See Encyclopaedia Britannica: Sri Lanka

 

Photos

Kandygs visiting CONTIGO 

Photos from Sri Lanka