Porter Protection

No Roads is dedicated to the people that work with us. This includes the land owners, office staff, Australian Guides and suppliers. However, there is one group that literally carries the lions share of our expeditions, the Porters.

These fine people have a common thread that binds them no matter if they are from Timor Leste or Tanzania, Indonesia or Papua New Guinea. It is a characteristic of humility, one that enables them to endure the harsh conditions of the remote, whether it is a sub zero wind in Nepal or a torrential down pour in PNG. It is for this reason that No Roads dedicates itself to protecting their rights against poor operators.

We also have a detailed page on our Porter Team in PNG. Click here to see our policy to our team along the Kokoda Track.

No Roads abides by standards set by the International Porters Protection Group (IPPG) and the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC). These standards set benchmarks by which you Porter should be treated. For example there is a weight restriction that Porters can carry in Nepal or a fair pay level in Tanzania.

No Roads meets and in many cases surpasses these standards. For example in Nepal all our Porter team are kitted out in cold weather gear, Gortex and warm clothing to protect them from the bitter cold. In PNG our Porter team are the only ones with Workers Compensation and are paid directly into their own accounts. In Indonesia, our Porters on Rinjani are provided with warm jackets and those doing the summit, correct footwear as well as the best pay on the mountain.

The following are the standards on which we base all our contracts with Porters:
- A maximum weight for porters to carry is 25kg though it is usually 20kg or less
- A fair wage for work, though we usually pay above industry rates
- Porters are supplied with good equipment that will protect them from the elements such as cold winds and heavy rain
- Contracts are drawn up between No Roads and the Porters so that all parties are aware of their responsibilities
- Insurance such as Workers Compensation are made available to Porters where applicable (Nepal and PNG)

When you travel to these remote destinations, your choice of operator effects more than just you and your fellow trekkers. The decision you make could be the difference between a Porter living or dying. We encourage you to check out the IMEC webpage for more information on what you should look out for when choosing an operator.