1. North American Tour Operators who partner with the IMEC should develop porter guidelines based on these recommendations, distribute them to their clients and add them to the company's website: IMEC will link to the tour operator's website and provide information about their services and participation in the program.

2. Require that your local ground agents agree that they will operate according to the developed guidelines: Showing local companies that this is a priority to tour operators make them more likely to obey these principles. Ask to see written agreements with porters, if any. For example, ask to see the paperwork for insurance. Tour operators should be able to audit and review local ground agents.

A porter descends from the Tashi Laptsa (18,800ft.) outfitted in an IMEC Porter Assistance Project sweater.

3. Encourage local companies to hire porters as permanent or semi-permanent: This helps establish more dependable forms of income for porters and reduces instances of porter abuse.

4. Encourage local companies to stock their own equipment to loan to: This reduces dependence on foreign programs, such as the IMEC clothing lending program, and encourages local responsibility. IMEC may be able to help with this process in each country.

5. Bring extra equipment to loan to porters: Providing this equipment to a lending program - either through the IMEC, Porters' Progress, Inka Porter Project, or a company lending program - ensures many porters can use the equipment.

6. Hand out "The Porter" information sheets to all your clients and guides: Educating clients and guides about proper porter treatment will help make sure that your intentions are properly carried out in-country.

7. Encourage clients to meet and engage their porters: Clients should receive copies of the IMEC Porter English language book to give to their porters as gifts. Clients are encouraged to practice English with their porters. Porters should be asked to introduce themselves to clients at the beginning of the trip.

8. Take your clients to visit local organizations that support porters: Spending a few hours at the IMEC, Porters' Progress, or Inka Porter Project offices will help your clients develop a new respect for the men and woman that support the trekking and climbing industries. Supporting these organizations will also directly benefit porters through the development of their clothing lending programs and English, First Aid, and empowerment classes.

9. Ask that clients fill out post-trek evaluation forms: Include questions about treatment of porters. This will be a way to learn about any cases of neglect or abuse by local ground agents.

10. Use porter guidelines as a marketing advantage: Make porter guidelines a marketing tool to help sell your organizations services.

Download Porter Partnership Program Application (Word 2002 document).

For more details see our Partnership page.

Contact information for Proper Porter Wages and Weights.