Insurance for Guides and Porters

[julia]

Hi

Ive been reading a bit about guides/porters needing insurance when they go on a trek with you, how do you go about organising this? Is there a particular company that does this sort of thing, or do the guides organise their own?

Appreciate your answers on this. Thanks Julia

[Oli]

thats a very good question Julia.

Assuming that you hire a professional guide, as like as not he will be affiliated with a TAAN recognised/approved agency, it seems reasonable to expect that as a professional he will have some sort of insurance. But does he really? And does it cover accident and/or professional liability?
And if you hire a porter he is far less likely to have any sort of insurance cover. I'm no expert on Nepali employment laws, but I expect there may be some duty of care required for employer/employee engagements. And who hired that random porter at the trailhead? Your guide brokered the deal but if you are responsible for the payroll then you may be the legal employer...

*shrug*

Insurance is gambling on personal risk, and I suspect that if you have it you are less likely to need it. The factors of chance and fate are as significant as those of choice and the stakes are high.

Sorry, that's not a good answer. :confused:

[Harry]

HI,

Normaly I only work with organisations who are member of TAAN and also have the insurance for their workers. I advise not to pick any guy from the street to go along with your planning for trekking, if you need help from helicopter service you won't be able to get one.
At Lazimpat there is an office who works for the welfare of the porters, a visit to them is realy an eye opener.

Harry

[yakshaver]

Correct, it is an isue of risk tollerance. I have employed independently - guide who brought his porter(s) - in my last three treks at least, and always forgot to ask the question. I know the guide is definitely registered and keeps upto date with his training etc. Quite meticulous. No idea about the porters. I guess I take the view (half subconscious upto now) that trekking on the "classic" treks in Nepal is not really that risky for a local. And if a "soft" westerner like me can hack it, a local will do the same. Once I turned a porter back, well it was by mutual agreement. He was the nephew of the trekking agency owner, a student who needed cash. He was "softer" than me, and couldn't keep up, although he only had 13 kg on his back. Complained about his knee. I paid him for his 3 days of work, gave him an extra 20 dollars US, and sent him on his way. Big smile all of a sudden, and he was skipping down the mountain happy as Larry, knee complaint suddenly resolved. The healing properties of money should never be underestimated, when coupled with ceasing hard work.
Must admit this was an exception. All other porters where absolutely tops.