Craft Link

Craft Link

 

This trade relationship is currently not active.

 

Profile of CONTIGO´s partner Craft Link

Hanoi to Göttingen (Source: Google Earth)

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

Craft Link11

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:Craft Link14
    • 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 ThàCraft Link19
  • 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 incomesCraft Link13
  • 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:Craft Link4

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 bonusCraft Link1
  • 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) Craft Link3
  • 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 

2014_Craft Link1 2014_Craft Link2 2014_Craft Link5 2014_Craft Link3

Author: Janina Lange on 30. October 2018

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