Our partner factory Midaya was founded in 1968 by the father of today's managing director. Since then, the company has worked continuously on improving working conditions and developing its employees. A central concern of the company is to broaden its employees' general knowledge and give them an understanding of other cultures and religions. To encourage this, Midaya organises an annual quiz in which six teams compete in categories such as cuisine, national flags and celebrities. At the same time, there is a painting competition for the employees' children, in which they paint porcelain. The painted plates are later fired and taken home by the children.

The company provides comprehensive support for employees' families, for example by covering the cost of school books. An annual outing with all employees, for which a hotel is rented and various activities and competitions are organised, is a further expression of the company's commitment to its employees' wellbeing. Midaya offers a range of benefits to support its employees, including health insurance that covers the cost of medication, free workwear and a subsidised canteen. In the event of personal or financial problems, the company stands by its employees and offers support. A company-owned charity shop allows employees to buy staple foods at reduced prices, with the cost deducted from their salary.

Midaya's employees receive a salary well above the minimum wage, as well as annual pay rises above the rate of inflation. The company also offers low-cost loans at an interest rate of 2%, which is very favourable compared with the national interest rate of 13.5% (as of 8 April 2022). Working hours are from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, and overtime is paid. Midaya is proud that employees who stay with the company for more than six months usually spend their entire working life there.

Midaya has never dismissed an employee, but has always tried to find a suitable position for everyone. However, around 50% of new employees leave the company within the first five months, which may be due to the less prestigious image of factory work in Sri Lanka. In future, our partner manufactory aims to position itself more as a design workshop, as in addition to production the company also runs its own design studio. There, concepts and simple sketches from customers are turned into handmade one-of-a-kind pieces. Midaya works with stoneware and porcelain and uses craft techniques such as sculpting, glazing, coloured porcelain and pen painting. In this way the company creates unique works of art.