porter's policy
To ensure the well-being of all porters on our tours, we have the following policy guidelines
kilimanjaro
Selection of Porters One third of the porters will be living close to the Marangu and will be selected by the Marangu. The other two thirds can be selected by the guide and can come from his area. Those selected by the guide only work with that guide.
minimum age No porters under the age of 18 will be employed. The age will be checked with the porter's identity card. The guide will carefully supervise young and new porters.
guide behaviour Guides will not exploit their position and in particular must not ask for or accept any form of bribes from porters. Any guide found to be doing this will be dismissed. Porters will be able to report problems in absolute confidence to the Marangu management.
wages All staff will receive a fair wage and payment will not be left solely to the head guide but will be supervised by the Marangu. Tips must be distributed openly and fairly, if necessary under the supervision of the Marangu, or if climbers wish as part of their wages. The wage will be fair and will include porter's food. No porter will be paid off during a climb simply because loads have become lighter and therefore fewer porters can manage. All porters will be paid for the duration of the climb.
accommodation Accommodation is provided and climber's park fees cover this cost. No porter will have to sleep outside; they will either sleep in huts or tents.
loads No one shall ever be asked to carry more than 20kg. Clients will be told the maximum luggage they can take with them which is to be carried by porters is 15 kg. Loads will be checked by the Marangu before departure.
clothing All staff to have correct clothing. Guerba and the Marangu will supply a windproof and waterproof Lowe Alpine outer jacket for 25 porters. This equipment will be branded with the Guerba and Marangu names. These jackets will be issued to the staff at the beginning of the climb and will be collected from them at the end. The Marangu will keep this equipment clean, serviceable and safe. No porter will be allowed to climb unless he has appropriate clothing; this includes a warm fleece or sweater, gloves and adequate footwear. The Marangu will provide financial assistance to new young porters so they can equip themselves. (Guerba is in the process of supplying Lowe Alpine polartek fleeces. These will be available in the summer of 2003.)
medical care All medical bills will be paid for staff taken ill during the climb. Staff will be evacuated from the mountain if they become ill and will nevertheless be paid for the whole climb.
responsibility on the climb The head guide will be responsible for the welfare of his staff.
client awareness and behaviour Porters and clients will be introduced by name at the start of the trek. Clients will be given advice on how much to tip and the procedure for tipping. hat we operate in Africa, we plant a tree in Kenya through our support of the Woodlands 2000 trust, a local NGO. We also offer you a chance to climate balance your international flights by making a payment to C-Level, who in turn finance certified reforestation projects in Uganda. We already carbon compensate our office activities through C-Level, working with them to audit, then minimise waste, and finally to carbon compensate for the energy we do use.
other areas Most of the tours we operate in the above three areas involve significant walking or trekking. By their very nature these trips are environmentally friendly. The use of wood will be minimised. Waste will be disposed of only in recognised containers. Locally owned and managed hotels and local leaders/ guides are used wherever possible, and this is now in virtually every situation.
inca trail
minimum age No porters under the age of 18 should be employed.
trek leader behaviour The local trek leaders, chief porters, and other staff, should not exploit their positions and in particular must not ask for or accept any form of bribes from porters. Any person found to be doing this should be dismissed. Porters are able to report problems in absolute confidence to the Peruvian Andean Treks (PAT) management. A field supervisor, who reports only to the office, will randomly check on activities in the field.
wages All staff will receive a fair wage and payment should not be left solely to the local leader but should be supervised by PAT. Tips will be distributed openly and fairly. Stoves, fuel, pots and pans for food preparation as well as food will be supplied. Transport to where the trek begins, and from the point it ends to their homes is paid for or provided.
loads No one shall ever be asked to carry more than 20K of trek load no more than 27K including their own personal items. Clients will be told the maximum luggage they can take with them which is to be carried by porters is 10 kg.
Sleeping Sleeping tents will be provided. Porters will not sleep outside.
medical care Staff will have access to first aid equipment sent out on the trek. If a porter becomes ill during the trek he will be paid full wages for the trip and he will be given assistance reaching the health care centre. Life insurance with medical care coverage will be provided.
responsibility on the trek The local leader will be responsible for the welfare of his staff.
Tipping Clients should be given advice on how much to tip and the procedure for tipping.