RugMark International

After 15 years of protecting children and promoting ethical carpet and rug production through the RugMark® certification, RugMark International (RMI) launched GoodWeave™ to strengthen and enhance its core mission. The introduction of the GoodWeave label has marked an important phase in the evolution of our organization.

GoodWeave is now the brand and the label seen by importers, retailers, designers, and ultimately consumers. GoodWeave stands for a deep commitment to

• the deterrence of child labor;
• the education and rehabilitation of rescued child laborers; and
• the families and communities of the children in India and Nepal.

As a part of this evolution, RMI established a subsidiary called GoodWeave U.G. GoodWeave U.G. began activities in India to ensure greater transparency, rigor and community involvement in our programs. A summary of GoodWeave’s work in India is described below.

Certification
Core to GoodWeave’s mission is a transparent and verifiable inspection and monitoring program and certification system. In order to ensure maximum credibility from the outset, GoodWeave UG required all exporters who were actively supplying licensed importers to be re-licensed The list of suppliers authorized to apply the RMI certification label went from several hundred to just under 40 licensed exporters supported by approximately 140 contractors and subcontractors.

Since the introduction of GoodWeave at the end of 2009 all exporters licensed to apply the GoodWeave label have been inspected on one or more occasions by a reputable third-party certifier, Level Works. The majority of contractors and subcontractors facilities have also been inspected one or more times. These inspections encompass the effort of thousands of workers toiling on looms, tufting frames, and washing and dyeing facilities as well as all the related finishing work throughout the primary carpet producing regions of India.

GoodWeave is in the process of also launching an in-house monitoring system from Varanasi, which will be assessed by Level Works to ensure the system adheres to the GoodWeave standard and best practices for verification, that include transparency. Inspections for current and newly licensed companies will be ongoing and random.

Standards-setting
A new GoodWeave standard is under development, seeking to address child labor in a more holistic way. GoodWeave will, in time, represent an enhanced set of values that places its mission in a broader context of environmental and social responsibility.

Through a new set of standards under development, GoodWeave label directives will be more rigorous, transparent and defined, and with input from a multi-stakeholder standards committee including worker, manufacturer, importer, retail, NGO and technical representatives. For guidance in this effort, GoodWeave is an associate member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL), a global leader in setting norms and best practices for certification.

These new developments will allow our partners, members and end-use purchasers to have even greater confidence in our claims. In addition, the GoodWeave program creates potential to expand into new geographic markets and new industries, and to better communicate the full scope of our mission and values. More information about the GoodWeave standard-setting process is available at www.goodweave.net .

Rehabilitation
GoodWeave’s rehabilitation partner Bal Vikas Ashram is based in Allahabad and since June of 2009 has been contracted to provide rehabilitation (shelter, food, clothing and schooling) to any children found working in licensee facilities. Any rescued children are offered the opportunity to attend school long-term with GoodWeave support.

Additional Social Programs
Schooling
In the fall of 2009, GoodWeave and the Global Fund for Children (GFC) launched a partnership to strengthen community-level programs in Uttar Pradesh.

Through its partnership with GFC, GoodWeave seeks to tap the organization’s 15 years of experience working with grassroots social programs in India that serve the most vulnerable children and youth. GFC is working with GoodWeave to identify, vet, co-fund and evaluate community-owned and -operated programs that contribute to the elimination of child labor through education, advocacy and other direct services.

The first two GoodWeave – GFC approved projects include a basic education program that works with 15 community education centers to re-integrate out-of-school children into the formal education system and schooling for 200 of-age girl laborers in weaving communities.

GoodWeave and GFC will continue to build new, innovative programs in weaving communities and will announce new projects in September 2010.

Health
In early 2010 GoodWeave successfully piloted a new health program for workers at two carpet-weaving factories in Panipat. By educating and highlighting the health risks involved in carpet-weaving – such as inhalation of fiber dust – the initiative sets out to encourage workers to take more responsibility for their own health, be aware of potential symptoms and to use the protective equipment supplied, in order to avoid potential illnesses. Four interactive training sessions were run for 110 workers. At the same time two health camps registered and examined 148 workers and advised individuals on any symptoms or apparent illnesses.

The feedback from participants was positive, with workers expressing a desire to extend the program to their families and to provide similar education on the hazards of tobacco and advice on healthy nutrition. GoodWeave is now working on a plan to roll out the program to more factories in the area.

History
In order to fulfil its vision and obligations to its stakeholders (including licensees, financial supporters, and beneficiaries) RMI required transparency and accountability about the work being carried out in India, and historically worked with RugMark Foundation (India) (also referred to as “RMFI”). Due to differences with RMFI over an extended period of time, RMI ceased collaboration with RMFI and proceeded with a new initiative in India, operated by GoodWeave U.G., as mandated by its governing council of members in the U.K., U.S., Germany and Nepal.

RMFI has made allegations regarding RMI’s work in India, which are untrue. Under GoodWeave, as outlined above, improved certification systems, new social programs and consultation on the new standard were launched. These new programs and new standard are an extension of and build upon RMI’s many years of prior work to end child labor in the carpet industry.

RMI is enthusiastic about its improved systems and expanded scope, as our joint effort to end child labour and improve social and environmental conditions in weaving communities will have far greater impact.

Contact
For information about GoodWeave in India, please contact:

Ms. Ritu Tagyi
Program Director
91 981 803 4816 (phone)
ritu@goodweave.net
New Delhi, India

Mr. Mathew John
Program Manager
91 542 220 1172 (phone)
mathew@goodweave.net
Varanasi, India