Policies - Salient Human Rights
Nkuku has identified the human rights issues below as the areas where our business and supply chain could have the most significant impact on people. These issues guide our due diligence, supplier engagement and improvement work.
1. Fair pay and living wages
Why it matters: Fair pay supports workers and their families and helps create resilient artisan businesses.
Key risks
- Wages falling below legal requirements or recognised living wage benchmarks.
- Piece-rate work masking low hourly earnings.
- Irregular orders contributing to inconsistent income.
2. Working hours and overtime
Why it matters: Excessive hours can affect health, safety and family life.
Key risks
- Hours exceeding legal or responsible sourcing limits.
- Overtime not being voluntary or paid at the required premium.
- Peak production pressure leading to excessive working hours.
3. Health and safety in small workshops
Why it matters: Craft production can involve machinery, dust, chemicals, heat and fire risks.
Key risks
- Insufficient personal protective equipment or training.
- Poor ventilation or unsafe machinery.
- Inadequate fire prevention and emergency arrangements.
4. Child labour and young workers
Why it matters: Children must be protected from work that interferes with education or harms their health and development.
Key risks
- Undocumented labour in informal or family-run settings.
- Workers' ages not being properly verified.
- Young workers carrying out hazardous tasks.
5. Forced labour and debt bondage
Why it matters: All work must be freely chosen.
Key risks
- Recruitment fees or debts restricting a worker's freedom.
- Retention of passports or other identity documents.
- Workers being unable to leave employment freely.
6. Freedom of association and worker voice
Why it matters: Workers need safe ways to raise concerns and participate in decisions that affect them.
Key risks
- No accessible grievance channel.
- Retaliation against workers who speak up.
- Limited worker representation or dialogue.
7. Discrimination, dignity and respect
Why it matters: Everyone has the right to fair treatment and a workplace free from harassment and abuse.
Key risks
- Discrimination in recruitment, pay, promotion or access to work.
- Gender or caste-based inequality.
- Harassment, intimidation or degrading treatment.
8. Homeworking and informal labour
Why it matters: Informal work can be difficult to see and may fall outside normal workplace protections.
Key risks
- Limited visibility of working conditions and hours.
- Unsafe homeworking environments.
- Child labour or informal payment practices.
9. Natural materials and land-related impacts
Why it matters: The extraction and harvesting of natural materials can affect workers, local communities and land rights.
Key risks
- Unsafe extraction or harvesting practices.
- Community displacement or infringement of land rights.
- Exploitative or poorly controlled sourcing practices.
10. Gender equity and women workers
Why it matters: Women may face structural barriers to secure, fairly paid and skilled work.
Key risks
- Unequal pay or limited access to skilled roles.
- Insecure or informal employment.
- Insufficient maternity protection or flexibility.
11. Migrant and contract labour
Why it matters: Migrant and contract workers can be more vulnerable to exploitation.
Key risks
- Poor accommodation or restricted movement.
- Withheld or delayed wages.
- Unclear contracts, recruitment terms or deductions.
12. Community and livelihood impacts
Why it matters: Our purchasing decisions can affect the stability of artisan enterprises and the communities around them.
Key risks
- Sudden order reductions affecting income and employment.
- Unpredictable demand creating livelihood instability.
- Suppliers or communities becoming overly dependent on one buyer.
How we respond
These issues are reviewed as our business and supply chain change. Read about our human rights mitigation and due diligence and our wider Human Rights Policy.