Story:

In Nepal, the COVID 19 pandemic and measures implemented to prevent its transmission severely affected both the formal and informal sectors including carpet industries. There were low or now carpet orders from the importers during COVID time. All the works related to carpet production were halted. As a result, carpet workers who work in daily basis were affected adversely putting them in the debt situation struggling for their livelihood. As an immediate relief support for such needy workers from the GoodWeave licensee factory, GWI provided ration support to nearly 4500 carpet workers. During the need assessment survey with some of the workers and factory owners, GoodWeave team found the need of support for food, soaps & masks, general medicines for fever & common cold and thermal gun support. Based on these requirements, GoodWeave team set the relief package to be distributed to workers and factories as below; 

For an individual worker 
• 10 kg rice 
• 2 kg lentils 
• 5 pieces surgical masks 
• 1 soap for handwashing 

For an individual factory 
• Medicine for Fever (cetamol)-10 tablets per worker X numbers of workers in the factory 
• Medicine for Common Cold (D-Cold)-5 tablets per worker X number of workers in the factory 
• Infrared thermometer- 1 per factory 

Criteria Developed for relief support distribution 
Selection of factory and workers for food support distribution was set based on the below criteria: 

• Be resident within Subcontracted units of Renewed Licensees. 
• Be working within Licensed Supply Chains in GoodWeave’s Monitoring System as of Sep 15 2020. 
• Not received relief package previously from any other organization. 
• Supply chain workers who have low income due to low carpet orders from importers 

Based on the above criteria, GoodWeave team distributed the relief package to 4253 workers from 144 factories. 

Worker's Reflection 
"I have been taking care of 6 family members in my house from my income through carpet weaving. Lockdown and prohibitory orders enacted in different time periods resulted in the low carpet orders which directly impacted my earnings. As a result, I was struggling hard managing for our livelihood. In such a difficult time, GoodWeave team supported me with food supplies along with masks and other essential medicines. I am very much thankful to the GoodWeave team for their generous support."- A happy worker from one of GoodWeave's supply chains.