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Protecting our porters
Porters are an integral part of the World Expeditions philosophy and style of travel. As we endeavour to take people off the beaten track, avoiding the congested trails, by using porters, trekkers are able to experience our remote tent-based adventures. Porters are as important to us as our travellers. Without them, we would not be able to run our quality programs. When we trek, the entire group - travellers, guides and porters alike - are a team who share the same needs for safety in the mountain environment. For this reason, all World Expeditions porters are provided with the following:
• | A good working wage |
| • | We provide all food for porters |
| • | We provide life insurance cover |
| • | We also provide emergency helicopter insurance |
| • | The most visible sign of this porter protection is the equipment we provide: wind and waterproof jacket and over-trousers, 2 pairs of woolen socks, 2 pair of shoes, woolen gloves, warm cap, crampons if required, sunglasses, mattress and sleeping bag and tent as well as cooking utensils, stove and kerosene fuel. |
World Expeditions will stand by its commitments and abide by its porter protection policies because it is the responsible thing to do. We will continue to campaign to ensure that all trekking companies adopt similar policies because we strongly believe the welfare of the entire trek crew, from porters to the most senior guide, is the responsibility of the company that sends them out there.
World Expeditions supports the good work of two international organisations that operate to ensure the health and well being of porters, the International Porter Protection Group & the International Mountain Explorers Connection.
International Porter Protection Group
The International Porter Protect Group’s (IPPG) aim is to improve health and safety for the trekking porter at work in the mountains and reduce the incidence of avoidable illness, injury and death. This is achieved by raising awareness of the issues among the trekking community and travel companies, leaders and sirdars. The higher and the more remote your trek, the better equipment and shelter you will have to provide.
IPPG recommends the following guidelines:
| • | Adequate clothing is made available for protection in bad weather and at altitude. This should include adequate footwear, hat, gloves, windproof jacket and trousers, sunglasses, and access to a blanket and pad above the snowline. |
| • | Leaders and trekkers provide the same standard of medical care for porters they would expect themselves. |
| • | Porters not be paid off because of illness without the leader or trekkers being informed. |
| • | Sick porters are never sent down alone, but rather with someone who speaks their language. |
| • | All trekking porters should have provision for security, personal protective equipment including shoes and clothes, depending on the weather. |
Brief history
On October 24, 1997, a 24 year old Nepalese mountain porter, Shyam Bahdur Nepali, fell ill while carrying another trekking company's equipment over the 5000m Thorong La, on the Annapurna Circuit. Unable to carry his load, he was paid off, dismissed from the expedition and sent back alone without adequate clothing for the cold conditions. Within 24 hours he was dead, just one hour away from the Himalayan Rescue Post in Menang. His body lay on the trail for three days. In response to this atrocious incident Dr Jim Duff established the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG). World Expeditions had no hesitation in becoming a founding supporter of the group and assisting Jim's efforts.
how can you help?
You may like to make a donation to IPPG to help with creating awareness of the issue or donate some outdoor/trekking gear in reasonable condition to the IPPG clothes bank. Email a message to Dr Jim Duff, national representative and International co-ordinator at info@ippg.net
Hear what IPPG has to say about World Expeditions
International Mountain Explorers Connection
The International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) is a U.S. based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote responsible and sustainable connections between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions of the world. Through IMEC’s local projects in Moshi, Tanzania and Kathmandu, travelers gain a greater understanding of labor issues surrounding the tourism industry.
In order to feed themselves and their families, porters take on the job of carrying heavy loads to high elevations on Kilimanjaro and in the Himalayas. Some of the problems porters face are:
| • | Underpayment by companies |
| • | Not receiving the full amount of tip intended for them |
| • | Inadequate clothing and gear |
| • | Being forced to carry excess weight |
| • | Poor sleeping facilities |
Such treatment leaves porters open to illness and neglect on the mountain. Because porters have no job security, they have little room for complaint.
IMEC porter assistance project
IMEC’s Porter Assistance Project seeks to improve the working conditions of trekking porters by:
| • | Providing individual porters and climbing companies with warm, high quality clothing free of charge. |
| • | Offering English language, First Aid, HIV/AIDS Awareness, and Money Management classes in order to motivate and empower porters. |
| • | Educating the tourist population about acceptable standards of porter treatment. |
World Expeditions is a member of IMEC’s Partnership for Responsible Travel Program which recognises those tour operators committed to promoting proper porter treatment and cultural and environmental sensitivity among their clients.
