Workwear company HAVEP pays living wage in northern Macedonia

Living wage is still an exception in the Eastern European garment industry

A minimum wage that is not enough to live comfortably on and poor working conditions, even in Eastern Europe this is still prevalent in the textile industry. HAVEP is taking an important and natural step by making a positive difference here. Starting this year, the textile manufacturer from Goirle pays living wages to employees in its own workshop in North Macedonia. This means that the workers in the production country can provide for their needs and lead a decent life.

Sustainable trade relationship
Exactly fifty years ago, HAVEP started producing in Macedonia and still produces workwear in its own workshop in North Macedonia. During this long partnership, HAVEP has been making a difference for the employees by providing training and pleasant working conditions and paying them above the minimum wage for years. Now a new step will follow: HAVEP will raise the salaries to a living wage. With this, people in a two-earner family can support themselves and their two children in terms of food, shelter, clothing and education in the region where they live. “We are on the right track,” says Anna van Puijenbroek, CEO of HAVEP, “but there is also a long way to go.”

Working conditions in textiles are still often substandard even in Europe. For people in the garment industry, it is still far too often difficult to pay for their basic provisions, as in many Eastern European countries the legal minimum wage in textiles is not enough to live comfortably on. In addition, conditions are not optimal: excessive overtime, six-day work weeks, and low worker representation are not exceptions. These production countries often deliberately keep the minimum wage low in order to remain competitive. HAVEP has therefore always taken the lead itself by investing in a sustainable trading relationship.

A bright future for the people and the environment
By paying a living wage, HAVEP has higher wage costs in the short term than other textile companies in Macedonia. However, in the long run it has a positive impact: low absenteeism and hardly any staff turnover. These are very important factors that contribute to HAVEP receiving consistent quality and productivity from its staff.

Van Puijenbroek: “My grandmother always said that she liked working in the textile industry so much because it meant she could do a lot for women in poorer countries. For me too, a family business is a wonderful tool to make the world a little better. With HAVEP we are not only trying to build a positive future for our company, we are also trying to build a bright future for our environment and our people. We are proud of this, but there is much more that can be done. That’s why HAVEP is asking other companies and organizations to take that responsibility together.”

#havepositiveimpact
Doing good for people and the environment is embedded in the culture of the 150+ year old family business. Making a positive difference is a trajectory, with the living wage in its own North Macedonia workshop as the first milestone. Fortunately, there are also many other companies that have set up their business models to make the world a little better. HAVEP calls on these companies to also tell the outside world how they are making a positive impact with sustainable, socially responsible and transparent production. All these stories together should in turn encourage other companies to also take positive steps.

For this purpose HAVEP is launching #havepositiveimpact. With this hashtag entrepreneurs can let themselves be heard on social media. But this can also be done via the website www.havepositiveimpact.eu. Here is an opening to contact HAVEP: to share positive stories on this platform, exchange thoughts, contribute ideas and initiate collaborations. HAVEP talks about living wage in North Macedonia among others with this video on www.havepositiveimpact.eu. How do you make a positive impact with your business?