Unimex Hanoi

Vietnam

Mr-Hungs-Group

Purpose

Unimex aims to provide work for artisans from villages where handcrafts are produced, and to provide additional income outside of harvesting cycles for farmers living around these villages. Farmers are assisted with finance to train them in new skills so they are able to supplement their income and provide for their families due to the severe situation of poverty they face.

Producers

There are just two producer workshops: one making ceramics, where 21 women and 9 men are employed, and one producing bamboo products where 60 people (48 women and 12 men) are regularly employed, and a further250 households in 5 nearby villages work part time when they are not busy in their rice fields.

The groups are of the traditional village type where the owner employs family and neighbours. Theywere chosen for the quality of their products and to meet market demand, although consideration was also given to the structure of the group and the extent to which the leader demonstrated social responsibility in order to meet fair trade standards.Consideration was also given to whether and how the lives of producers could be improved through development interventions.

Benefits

Benefits tend to vary between groups but common is support for workers during illness, pregnancy or times of special need, and the provision of retirement funds and end of year bonuses.
Producers fix their own prices which are above the minimum rate and they receive a 50% advance payment, and prompt payment of the balance when the order is completed. Most producers own land (with the exception of the ceramics group) and the income earned from handcrafts is a necessary supplement to the subsistence living they make from this.