Thousands of people work in the wool and carpet production in the region around Lahore. Together with the carpet workers trade union, Label STEP has conducted training and further education about security at the workplace and has financed means of protection. The workers are now less imperilled and the means are also economically profitable.

Dyeing wool as well as the finishing of carpets – shearing, burning off and the final washing – is a work mostly done by men in Pakistan. Many of them are exposed to health risks at work: combustion with hot water or kerosene, irritations by chemicals, cuts and bad air are widespread. Together with the carpet trade union, Label STEP has reached considerable improvements of security at the workplace by information and measures of protection.
Lohnenswert für Arbeiter, Unternehmer und Umwelt

The workers were trained and educated further about job safety in workshops and informative events. Norms and standards have been brought to their attention and they learned to more deliberately pay attention to their workplaces regarding security.

Moreover, the implementation of precise measures was especially successful: during dyeing and washing the men were urged to wear rubber boots which were made available by Label STEP. Also, protective masks and first aid boxes were introduced. The changeover from kerosene burners to gas burners in the finishing process does not only increase security but is also ecologically and economically reasonable. Because burning off with gas is considerably quicker, the factory owners save costs.

All initiated safety measures have considerably reduced the loss of working hours on the basis of injuries and illnesses which also positively affected the turn overs of the companies. Therefore, the project has been taken over by the companies in the meantime. Up to this day further measures are introduced and improvements are reached constantly.