Porter Welfare

Mountain porters are an integral part of each World Expeditions trekking or mountaineering adventure. Getting our travellers off the beaten path means that we use the self sufficiency of camping, a style of trekking that is enabled by mountain porters. On a trek or climb, the entire group - travellers, guides and porters alike - are a team who share the same needs for safety in the mountain environment.

Our Porter Welfare Code of Conduct ensures safe working conditions for the mountain porters we employ in Nepal, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Kenya and Tanzania.

• A good working wage that is regulated by the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal and the Labour Union of Nepal. We pay per their guidelines, which are unionized.

• Life insurance and income protection insurance.

• Access to the same first aid care that our travellers receive including emergency helicopter evacuation if required.

• A wind and waterproof jacket and over-trousers, 2 pairs of woolen socks, 2 pairs of leather shoes on long treks and 2 pairs of canvas shoes while on short treks, woolen gloves, a warm cap and sunglasses.

• A weight restriction of carrying no more than 30kgs.

• A porter age restriction of minimum 16 years of age and maximum 50 years of age.

Additionally, we are one of the only trekking companies in Nepal to provide porters with:

• Three meals a day, prepared by our cooks.

• Lodging or tents, sleeping mats and blankets.

We go above and beyond the standards in place by International Porter Protection Group to provide safe and fair working conditions for the porters.

We also support porters located outside of Kathmandu that are not employed by World Expeditions, who are unaware of their rights and as a result can end up in poor employment situations that compromise their welfare.

Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) operate Porter Awareness Workshops with the key objective to impart awareness and knowledge to those porters about their rights and responsibilities, working conditions, as well as government policies and mountain environmental education. Along with other like-minded organizations, the World Expeditions Foundation is sponsoring a workshop organised by KEEP for around 200 porters in March 2020.

• The same access to medical service as clients.

• Three meals per day based on a menu requested specifically by the porters as well as gas stoves for all cooking.

• Access to interest free long-term loans from us, provided they can clearly indicate how the funds will be used.

• Basic life and accident insurance.

• Full coverage of any medical costs incurred, regardless of if it is work related, to any porter or member of their family.

• Transport (private busses and trains) to and from the trek.

• Sleeping tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags (if requested), footwear (shoes or boots), warm jackets and rain gear.

• Yearly meetings to discuss any other needs porters may have and areas they feel improvements are possible.

Additionally, we are one of the five companies (among almost 200) that pay the highest wages to porters.

By adhering to IMEC’s (International Mountain Explorers Connection) guidelines, World Expeditions are partners of the KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project). The guidelines include -

• Pay the minimum wage agreed upon by the Kilimanjaro stakeholders in 2015.
  
  
• Make salary payments within 2 days after the descent of a climb.
  
  
• Implement a transparent tipping procedure to ensure that the porters receive the full amount of tip intended for them.
  
  
• Supply the appropriate number of porters so that porters carry no more than the park regulation weight of 20kg for the company load.
  
  
• Provide the porter with 3 meals per day and cover all food costs.
  
  
• Furnish appropriate tents, ground sheet and adequate sleeping space.
  
  
• Ensure that porters have the proper gear for the climb.
  
  
• Assist with the descent of an ill porter and provide for medical treatment as indicated.
  
  
• Safeguard fair assignment to climbs without any payment of bribe money.

We support IMEC and KPAP in ongoing monitoring and oversight of every climbing season to guarantee compliance with the Guidelines for Proper Porter Treatment, and as such we are recognised as part of IMEC's list of travel companies, affirming our commitment to porter welfare and well-being whilst working on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru climbs.

We address gender inequality in the portering industry by employing female crew members on Mount Kilimanjaro. We have two highly successful female guides, a female cook, and around 40 female porters. Our porters on Kilimanjaro receive working conditions that comply with those stipulated by the KPAP.

Since 2012, we have been commitment to the professional development of guides, porters and crew that we employ on Mount Kilimanjaro. World Expeditions has sponsored several guides to complete scholarships through the Kilimanjaro Guide Scholarship Foundation each year. The course trains the guides in Tour Operations, Tourism Geography, Wildlife Knowledge and Basic Computer Applications

• Wages that are above the minimum wage for Papua New Guinea.

• Payment for the return trip home or flights to return home (depends on location and personal preference).

• Allocated money to purchase their preferred food for the trek, uniform and first aid kit, as well as having their campsite fees paid for.

We encourage all trekking companies adopt similar policies as we believe that the welfare of the entire trekking crew, from porters to the most senior guide, is the responsibility of the company that sends them on the trek.