a sharing wage
In the indigenous South American language of Quechua, Minga means “communal work day”. When people participate in a Minga, they are investing their personal time, energy and resources to benefit the community as a whole.
Christopher Keefe, founder, Minga Fair Trade Imports
The founder of Minga Fair Trade Imports, Christopher Keefe, has worked since 1995 to support the concept of a sharing wage for artisans as opposed to just a living wage.
A living wage can allow a family to just barely get by, but a sharing wage provides the artisan with enough to share or invest in their families and their communities. Minga connects stores with artisans in Ecuador, Peru, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to ensure them a sharing wage for their crafts.
Minga hand made accessories, toys, key chains and musical instruments are now in stock at Basics.
“Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach to alleviating global poverty and promoting sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of goods...Fair trade works with marginalized producers and workers to help them move from a position of vulnerability to economic self-sufficiency.”