LEADING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE HUMAN NATURE MARKS 10TH YEAR

HUMAN Nature’s propoor policies are at the cornerstone of its commitment to help foster a new middle class. Most notable of these policies are paying a living wage, one-day off (Sunday), regularization for all, no firing policy, freedom from debt programs, values formation and life-skills training.

By intentionally hiring people from the marginalized, the company is able to provide opportunities to those who need it most.

Warehouse staff Jade Estor’s growing up years were tough. His family lived in Payatas, a Metro Manila area known for its massive garbage dumpsites. In 2010 his mother was diagnosed with cancer and he gave up his dreams of finishing school to support his family.

For Estor, receiving living wages became the lifeline his family needed. He was able to provide for his family and support his nieces and nephew’s schooling. “In Human Nature, I learned to work and value what I earn not for myself but for my family.”

Over 58 percent of Human Nature’s employees are like Estor: low-skilled working poor from communities near the company’s facilities in Quezon City and Laguna. The minimum living wage for its rank-and-file workers ranges from over 60 percent to as high as twice the minimum legal wage.

While the worldwide trend is to add more working hours, Human Nature is working on reducing the work hours of employees. Some teams and departments are currently on a seven-hour work day, and the goal is to eventually bring it down to six productive hours.

Citing the Sundays off policy and shortened working hours as integral to changing labor practices, GKI Chairman Dylan Wilk said that, “Being middle class is not only about earning a decent income, but about having genuine quality of life, including proper family time and rest.”