Sustainability & Fairtrade

FAIR PAYMENT AND GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS ARE A MATTER, OF COURSE, FOR JAN KATH. TOGETHER WITH LABEL STEP, WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO ADHERING TO STRICT SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL STANDARDS IN THE PRODUCTION OF CARPETS.

STEP was founded as an independent non-governmental organization in 1995 by well-known aid organizations such as Bread for the World, Caritas, and Swissaid. It has an active local presence in all of the major carpet-producing countries, including Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, and Turkey. Independent inspectors regularly visit production sites to check the working conditions.
 
Based on current market prices, Label STEP calculates the wages required by carpet weavers and other workers to cover the cost of food, health care, living, energy, clothes, and education for themselves and their families. Both STEP and JAN KATH are firmly against exploitative child labor.
A system of fair trade and rigorous regulation helps to prevent child labor and also combats its causes by improving working conditions and increasing wages. It also creates prospects for young people: only when parents earn enough to secure a livelihood for their families, can they afford to send their children to school instead of letting them work.

“I’ve lived and worked in Nepal and Mongolia for several years myself,”

says Kath.

He feels a close connection with the locals in these countries and visits the production facilities every month.

“Of course, it’s a moral imperative. But it’s also in our own interest as a business to make sure that we provide the right working conditions. We set up day cares so our employees’ children don’t run around playing between the weaving stools. This gives our workers the peace and quiet they need to concentrate – many of our designs are highly intricate and difficult to create. We also want to keep the craft of weaving appealing. After all, we need a motivated skilled workforce in our factories, both for today and in the future.””

To find out more, visit STEP