WORKING PAPERS FOR SHARING COUNTRY EXPERIENCES
Homenet Southeast Asia’s Subregional Workshop on Membership-based Organizing, linking OSH and Fair Trade Concerns

DEVELOPING  INDEPENDENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

Sitann Nuth (Artisans Association of Cambodia (AAC)

For its vision, AAC aims to see Cambodian artisans’ groups evolve into accomplished independent social enterprises. As a fair trade association, its mission is to provide commercial and capacity building services to social enterprises that work closely with disadvantaged people.

AAC is a membership-based organization representing a growing number of artisan and handicraft businesses. Members comprise producers and workers from the formal and informal sectors: micro, small and medium social enterprises, NGOs,  private businesses/shops, self-help groups,  cooperatives and various associations.  AAC was established in 2001 and became operational in 2003 through the efforts of WWF, UNDP and ILO. In 2004, it was registered with the Ministry of Industry,  became member of IFAT and AFTF  in 2005 and 2006, respectively, and  is presently networking with Homenet Southeast Asia. It has maintained partnership with various organizations including Mc Knight Foundation, Traidcraft Exchange UK, EU/Asia Invest, International Cooperation Cambodia (ICC), American Jewish World Service (AJWS) and line ministries in the country. 

Occupational safety and health concerns in Cambodia are reflected in the country’s labor laws, and on a limited scale, the Ministry of Health,  Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSAVY) are working for the promotion of OSH through education and publicity.  For its part, AAC had partnered with important organizations for the training of producers’ groups: ILO, for the implementation of the  WISH program;  Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations (CAMFEBA), for  advocacy and education; and Traidcraft UK, for training of grassroots producers on efficient production  so that they can implement OSH in the workplace.
AAC’s linkage with Traidcraft UK, ILO, GTZ paved the way towards extending a health insurance program (Great Sky) for homebased workers and their families, although access is still limited.

Sustaining the promotion of OSH among workers themselves and implementing this in the workplaces remains to be a big challenge. To date, all AAC member organizations are working towards the implementation of fair trade, guided by labor standards that are meant to address OSH concerns. Although compliance was not one hundred percent, target groups have realized the importance of implementing OSH in the workplace as evidenced by changes in their attitude and habits. 

INCORPORATING OSH AND FAIR TRADE
IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Bernadete da Fonseca (Alola Foundation of Timor Leste)

Founded in 1991, the Alola Foundation today has grown to respond to many other needs of East Timorese women such as advocacy, economic empowerment, education and literacy, maternal and child health and humanitarian assistance.

Fair trade and occupational safety and health (OSH) concerns are incorporated in the Economic Development Program, one of the four broad programs of the Foundation. The EDP has three branches: Alola Enterprises (trading as Alola Handicrafts), Metinaro IDP (Internally Displaced People) Camp Handicraft & Enterprise Skills Development, and Taibessi Sewing Center. 

The Handcrafts program (Alola Handicrafts) promotes one of the few cash based economic activities that women can engage in.  Tais weaving is traditionally a homebased activity and can accommodate the needs of the family and household. The Metinaro IDP Camp Handicraft and Enterprise Skills Development targets women living at the Metinaro Internally Displaced Persons’ Camp. The residents of this camp fled Dili during the unrest in 2006. Metinaro IDP is far more isolated than other IDP camps in and around Dili. Residents live in temporary tents and palm leaf shelters, and although a few commute to Dili for work, most do not participate in economic activity. They rely on rations provided at this stage by government and NGOs.  The Sewing Center produces maternity packs and distributes to two hospitals in Dili and Baucu districts. It helps promote maternal and child health, and reduce mortality of mother and child.

The Alola EDP is comprised of seven staff members, three sewers for the Alola Handcraft shop, 10 sewers for the Taibessi Sewing Center, and one technician.  Alola has 20 producer groups in seven districts, and each group has five to 20 persons performing various work such as Tais weaving, palm weaving, sewing, and ceramics production.

Promotion of occupational safety and health and fair trade among the producer groups still needs to be developed. First, there is generally no existing regulation from the government, considering that there are  many IDPs in Timor Leste. Also,  clinics, ambulance, medicines and nurses are lacking. And there is no medical insurance yet.  Moreover, there is limited access to market, domestic and international,  and infrastructure is lacking. Resources as well as people’s skills are very .limited. What makes it more difficult for local producers to compete in the market is the sourcing of raw materials, which is commonly imported from other countries (such as Bali, Indonesia).