Kaiko acts as a forerunner in the field of social responsibility. We create work and livelihood in developing Nepal through our own production and we make sure that all those who manufacture Kaiko's products are paid a living wage.
We redirect 7% of the profit of every sold product to empower and educate women in Nepal. The donation will be used to train and empower women-led companies in developing countries through Naisten Pankki cooperation and Kaiko's own Nepal projects.
A living wage
A living wage is one of the most important indicators of social responsibility. A living wage is an amount that is sufficient to cover the basic expenses of life, such as housing, food, health care, insurance, transportation, and children's school fees. In developing countries, where there is no social security provided by society, it is especially important that the wage is sufficient to cover all of the above-mentioned expenses.
We monitor the wages paid by Kaiko producers through annual surveys. With producers operating within the EU, wages are based on legal regulations and are therefore easy to monitor. In Nepal, the minimum wage set by law is not enough to live on, and therefore we monitor it particularly closely.
We use the World Fair Trade Organization's wage model as a benchmark for fair wages. The living wage defined in the model has been calculated to correspond to the standard of living in Kathmandu.
Annual 7 % donation
We help Nepalese women develop their working environment and provide fair jobs to the people in their region. The donation amount is transferred to Nepal through our own projects and team, as well as in cooperation with the Women's Bank.
In 2021, we donated funds directly to people in Nepal who have been impoverished by the covid crisis. The donation amount has also been used to train our own local Nepal team.
Part of the donation amount is directed to the Women's Bank for grassroots training, so that support is also provided to women in remote areas who do not have the same opportunities to find employment as urban women in Kathmandu
Kaiko's jewelry collection already employs over 40 Nepalese women
Kaiko's partner Aroma Beads was founded in 2014 and is owned by Anjila Shrestha Kunwar Rana and Indu Shrestha. Jewelry making requires several weeks of training.
In addition to teaching jewelry making skills, Aroma Beads focuses on developing the holistic well-being of women. Fair wages and working conditions for employees can be ensured through the collaboration with Anjila.
Why Nepal?
Responsible workplaces are especially important in a developing country, where a lot of exploitation is encountered in working life and wages are often not enough to live on. For a Nepalese woman, the independence brought by a job and her own livelihood is often not only a life-changing experience, but also a way to get out of generations of poverty.
Even though Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, its 123 ethnic groups and their rich traditions in handicrafts and arts have created a unique atmosphere in the country, which is evident, for example, in our jewelry collection handmade in Nepal.
