Kalsang Wangdu by his desk. Photo by Lilian.
Kalsang Wangdu is working as a manager for Dekyiling handicraft center which is situated in a Tibetan colony. Kalsang is on the fourth year as a manager for the center, the manager is chosen for a period of three years but can be re-elected which is the situation for Kalsang which is now re-elected for the second time. Before he was a manager he worked at the center as a product manager since 1984.
The center has 66 employees of whom four are men. The youngest of the employees are 25 years old and the oldest about 60 years old. All of the artisans are Tibetans that live in the colony. The biggest market for the colony is within India, to Ladakh, Dharamsala, Dheradun, Tibetan colonies and south India. On this market they sell mostly Tibetan aprons and incense. They also export to IM-SOIR Sweden were the sell mostly bags which is designed by IM-SOIR:s designer Karin Kock. Kalsang have tried to find more customers for the center, for instance Fab India. Kalsang have provided them with samples and price lists and the same also have been provided to Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives India, FTCI.
Artisans working with incense production. Here they cut them into the right size. Photo by Lilian.
The material that is used is cotton and herbs for the incense. If they get a order Tibetan jackets made of wool can be made. The cotton is bought in Delhi were it is also dyed. The dye is azo-free but Kalsang does not know if it is ecological.
The incense out in the sun to get dry. Photo by Lilian.
The artisans work six days a week, from 8 am to 17 pm but varies some due to that many of the artisans have children and take care of them by themselves which demands that the working hours have to be a bit flexible. The reason why the most artisans are sole custody takers is that their husbands work in the military and can be away for months and sometimes several years in a row. The center is open for work all year round, but the most of the artisans leave during the summer months, three to four months, to work and sell ready made garment, which gives more money. It is only a few weavers that stay during this period which make it hard to fulfill orders during this period. I asked if it was any opportunity to increase the wages to keep the labor during this period but Kalsang answered that the difference was so high so that was not possible.
Tea is served at the center two times per day. Photo by: Youdon.
The center has no insurance for the artisans but cover 75 percentage of the medical and hospital expenses in case of sickness, regardless how high the expenses are. The school fees for the artisans children is payed by foreign sponsors that consists both of organizations and single individuals. The lunch the artisans have to manage by themselves and they often go home to cook. The center have filtered water free during all the day and two times per day tea is served. A fan is present in all the centers spaces and they have five available toilets. All the masters in the center have a provident fund of five percentage, but the other artisans does not have anything like this. Kalsang explains this with that the masters have a limited wage because they do not get money during the summer months were the most of the artisans is not present.
The artisans have a salary that is based on piece rate and the wages often lays between 1000-3000 INR a month for the artisans. Earlier the had a wage system that was based on daily wages but the production was very low and they implemented today's wage system 2007. A bonus is paid to the artisans if the annual profit is 50 percentage or more, the amount is the same for all artisans and lays about 600-800 INR. The 1:th of may the artisans is invited to a picnic were a bonus around 600 to 800 rupees in three categories is distributed; best quality, best attendance and highest production. The center have 45 days maternity leave and during that period they get 300-500 rupees.
- And in case any medical treatment is necessary we pay the 75 percentage of that, Kalsang adds.
Capacity building through training have been provided by IMEX for the masters that in return teach the other artisans. All the artisans are able to produce all the things that is made on the center and they can be transferred if necessary. Karin Kock, IM-SOIR:s designer is present at the center one to two weeks a year. She works with the masters at the center to develop new designs and color combinations. The design of the Tibetan aprons is designed by themselves at the center.
Kalsang an Youdon in the weaving hall at Deykiling handicraft centre. Photo by: Lilian.
Kalsangs opinion about the working environment is that it is good.
- We have good light due to big windows, good ventilation and large spacious weaving hall and we have newly renovated and changed windows and floor which was financed by IM-SOIR, he says.
We have no chemicals here either, Kalsang adds, but adds later on that they have one person that works a red powder that should bring some color to the incense. He works with the powder by his hands, protective gloves is present Kalsang says, but this man does not want to use them.
- He have been working with this for so long and do not see gloves as necessary, Kalsang explains.
If Kalsang had the opportunity to improve something in the center that would be to expand the room for the tailors. Right now the tailors have their own room but it is quite cramped and therefore some sewing machines have been placed in the weaving hall.
The tailor section which Kalsang want to expand. Now the tailors work in both a special room for them but also in the weaving hall due to lack of space. Photo by Lilian.
The annual turnover is often fairly steady from year to year but Kalsang explains when he gets the question if they can and also want to receive more orders that they can receive some more but they can not be to big because then there is a risk that they are not able to finish them.
The contact with IM-SOIR consist of orders, information about fair trade and Kalsang also turn to IM-SOIR to ask for advice and support if needed.
- It is very easy to talk to IM-SOIR:s staff and they are very straight forward, Kalsang says.
Kalsang have participated in two work-shops about fair-trade through IM-SOIR and Youdon Tsering. Before he participated in these he had a fear and anxiety that it should be complicated to work with fair trade and that they had to make drastically changes. That brought a quite negative view on fair trade for him. That point of view changed after the information provided by IM-SOIR. He felt that he learned that they were already working allot with the ten principles of fair trade and that fair trade brought many benefits for everyone involved.
Kalsang in Deykiling handicrafts show-room with a bag made from the same fabric as the Tibetan aprons. Photo by Lilian.
- A good work for all gives a good pay and vice verse, these things goes hand in hand with fair trade, he says. Fair trade is about provide job opportunities for marginalized groups which we were already working with. Fair trade is also about wages which the artisans can live a decent life on and to be concern about the environment. I now have a positive view on fair trade and agree on what was said on the work-shops. I am interested to participate in more work-shops about fair trade, but it can not be too often, maybe once or twice a year, Kalsang says.
I ask if he is interested that the artisans in the center also get information and get the opportunity to participate in a work-shop about fair trade, which is one of the plans for the future by Youdon Tsering.
- That is a good idea and important but it have to be briefly and not to deep because I think the artisans are most concerned about that they have a decent and good work to go to and that the they can support their self and their family on their wage, Kalsang states.
Kalsang said that he had two meetings after the work-shops about fair trade with the artisans on the center.
- Everyone agreed that it was important to work with these issues, especially the masters at the center, Kalsang claims with an positive attitude.
Text by Lilian
The center has 66 employees of whom four are men. The youngest of the employees are 25 years old and the oldest about 60 years old. All of the artisans are Tibetans that live in the colony. The biggest market for the colony is within India, to Ladakh, Dharamsala, Dheradun, Tibetan colonies and south India. On this market they sell mostly Tibetan aprons and incense. They also export to IM-SOIR Sweden were the sell mostly bags which is designed by IM-SOIR:s designer Karin Kock. Kalsang have tried to find more customers for the center, for instance Fab India. Kalsang have provided them with samples and price lists and the same also have been provided to Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives India, FTCI.
Artisans working with incense production. Here they cut them into the right size. Photo by Lilian.
The material that is used is cotton and herbs for the incense. If they get a order Tibetan jackets made of wool can be made. The cotton is bought in Delhi were it is also dyed. The dye is azo-free but Kalsang does not know if it is ecological.
The incense out in the sun to get dry. Photo by Lilian.
The artisans work six days a week, from 8 am to 17 pm but varies some due to that many of the artisans have children and take care of them by themselves which demands that the working hours have to be a bit flexible. The reason why the most artisans are sole custody takers is that their husbands work in the military and can be away for months and sometimes several years in a row. The center is open for work all year round, but the most of the artisans leave during the summer months, three to four months, to work and sell ready made garment, which gives more money. It is only a few weavers that stay during this period which make it hard to fulfill orders during this period. I asked if it was any opportunity to increase the wages to keep the labor during this period but Kalsang answered that the difference was so high so that was not possible.
Tea is served at the center two times per day. Photo by: Youdon.
The center has no insurance for the artisans but cover 75 percentage of the medical and hospital expenses in case of sickness, regardless how high the expenses are. The school fees for the artisans children is payed by foreign sponsors that consists both of organizations and single individuals. The lunch the artisans have to manage by themselves and they often go home to cook. The center have filtered water free during all the day and two times per day tea is served. A fan is present in all the centers spaces and they have five available toilets. All the masters in the center have a provident fund of five percentage, but the other artisans does not have anything like this. Kalsang explains this with that the masters have a limited wage because they do not get money during the summer months were the most of the artisans is not present.
The artisans have a salary that is based on piece rate and the wages often lays between 1000-3000 INR a month for the artisans. Earlier the had a wage system that was based on daily wages but the production was very low and they implemented today's wage system 2007. A bonus is paid to the artisans if the annual profit is 50 percentage or more, the amount is the same for all artisans and lays about 600-800 INR. The 1:th of may the artisans is invited to a picnic were a bonus around 600 to 800 rupees in three categories is distributed; best quality, best attendance and highest production. The center have 45 days maternity leave and during that period they get 300-500 rupees.
- And in case any medical treatment is necessary we pay the 75 percentage of that, Kalsang adds.
Capacity building through training have been provided by IMEX for the masters that in return teach the other artisans. All the artisans are able to produce all the things that is made on the center and they can be transferred if necessary. Karin Kock, IM-SOIR:s designer is present at the center one to two weeks a year. She works with the masters at the center to develop new designs and color combinations. The design of the Tibetan aprons is designed by themselves at the center.
Kalsang an Youdon in the weaving hall at Deykiling handicraft centre. Photo by: Lilian.
Kalsangs opinion about the working environment is that it is good.
- We have good light due to big windows, good ventilation and large spacious weaving hall and we have newly renovated and changed windows and floor which was financed by IM-SOIR, he says.
We have no chemicals here either, Kalsang adds, but adds later on that they have one person that works a red powder that should bring some color to the incense. He works with the powder by his hands, protective gloves is present Kalsang says, but this man does not want to use them.
- He have been working with this for so long and do not see gloves as necessary, Kalsang explains.
If Kalsang had the opportunity to improve something in the center that would be to expand the room for the tailors. Right now the tailors have their own room but it is quite cramped and therefore some sewing machines have been placed in the weaving hall.
The tailor section which Kalsang want to expand. Now the tailors work in both a special room for them but also in the weaving hall due to lack of space. Photo by Lilian.
The annual turnover is often fairly steady from year to year but Kalsang explains when he gets the question if they can and also want to receive more orders that they can receive some more but they can not be to big because then there is a risk that they are not able to finish them.
The contact with IM-SOIR consist of orders, information about fair trade and Kalsang also turn to IM-SOIR to ask for advice and support if needed.
- It is very easy to talk to IM-SOIR:s staff and they are very straight forward, Kalsang says.
Kalsang have participated in two work-shops about fair-trade through IM-SOIR and Youdon Tsering. Before he participated in these he had a fear and anxiety that it should be complicated to work with fair trade and that they had to make drastically changes. That brought a quite negative view on fair trade for him. That point of view changed after the information provided by IM-SOIR. He felt that he learned that they were already working allot with the ten principles of fair trade and that fair trade brought many benefits for everyone involved.
Kalsang in Deykiling handicrafts show-room with a bag made from the same fabric as the Tibetan aprons. Photo by Lilian.
- A good work for all gives a good pay and vice verse, these things goes hand in hand with fair trade, he says. Fair trade is about provide job opportunities for marginalized groups which we were already working with. Fair trade is also about wages which the artisans can live a decent life on and to be concern about the environment. I now have a positive view on fair trade and agree on what was said on the work-shops. I am interested to participate in more work-shops about fair trade, but it can not be too often, maybe once or twice a year, Kalsang says.
I ask if he is interested that the artisans in the center also get information and get the opportunity to participate in a work-shop about fair trade, which is one of the plans for the future by Youdon Tsering.
- That is a good idea and important but it have to be briefly and not to deep because I think the artisans are most concerned about that they have a decent and good work to go to and that the they can support their self and their family on their wage, Kalsang states.
Kalsang said that he had two meetings after the work-shops about fair trade with the artisans on the center.
- Everyone agreed that it was important to work with these issues, especially the masters at the center, Kalsang claims with an positive attitude.
Text by Lilian
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