Employers

Better Work, a joint initiative of ILO and International Finance Corporation (IFC), improves working conditions and competitiveness in the global garment industry through factory assessments, advisory services, and training. Operating in 11 countries across 3 continents, the program has impacted 3.7 million workers in 2,250+ factories. Key results include 26% reduction in overtime (Vietnam: 90%→50% excessive overtime), 17% reduction in gender pay gap (Nicaragua), 18% reduction in sexual harassment (Jordan), 26% increase in women's prenatal care access, and 25% increase in factory profitability. The Supervisory Skills Training led to 22% productivity increase on lines managed by trained female supervisors. The Better Work Academy scales training through "Train the Trainer" and e-learning.

The Vision Zero Fund is a G7-launched, G20-endorsed multi-donor trust fund administered by ILO to prevent work-related deaths, injuries, and diseases in global supply chains. In its first 5 years, the program improved health and safety for 5.6 million workers across garment, agriculture, coffee, and construction sectors in countries including Ethiopia, Madagascar, Vietnam, Myanmar, Colombia, Indonesia, and Uganda. Achievements include: Vietnam - 18,000+ farmers received OSH training; Myanmar - 198,000 garment workers gained enhanced employment injury insurance, 1,500 ginger farmers trained; Indonesia - 1.7 million coffee workers benefited from OSH improvements; Ethiopia - updated occupational disease list and National OSH Directive; Madagascar - ratified ILO Conventions 155, 161, 187.

The Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme combines classroom training with in-factory consulting to improve productivity and working conditions in SMEs. Since 2009, SCORE has trained 4,800+ SMEs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, benefiting 888,000+ workers. Modules cover Workplace Cooperation, Quality Improvement, Resource Efficiency, OSH, Lean Manufacturing, and Gender Equality. Results include: 50% productivity improvements, 64% reduction in defective products, 48% reduction in waste, 29% reduction in work-related accidents, 22% reduction in absenteeism, 91% enterprise satisfaction rate. Partnerships with Inditex, Adidas, and Ethical Trading Initiative integrate SCORE into supplier development.

The Fair Recruitment Initiative, launched in 2014, prevents human trafficking and forced labor by protecting migrant workers from abusive recruitment practices. The initiative's four-pronged approach: (1) enhance global knowledge on recruitment, (2) improve laws/enforcement, (3) promote fair business practices, (4) empower and protect workers. Since launch, FRI has covered 50 countries, contributed to 110 countries regulating recruitment fees, and supported 133 new ratifications of relevant ILO Conventions. The ILO General Principles state that NO recruitment fees should be charged to workers. The program addresses the estimated USD 5.6 billion annual illegal profits from exploitative recruitment fees charged to migrant workers.

IPEC+, formed in 2015 by merging ILO's child labor and forced labor programs, is the flagship initiative targeting SDG 8.7 - eradicate child labor by 2025 and forced labor by 2030. Operating in 88+ countries, the program uses a theory of change with four pillars: (1) public policies and governance - better laws and enforcement, (2) partnerships and advocacy - including Alliance 8.7 global partnership, (3) empowerment and protection - bottom-up approaches for vulnerable families, (4) knowledge and data - surveys, tools, and evaluation. World Day Against Child Labour (June 12, since 2002) is a key advocacy moment. Convention 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour achieved universal ratification by all 187 ILO members in 2020 - the fastest-ratified agreement in ILO history.

The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28) is ILO's primary awareness campaign for workplace safety, coinciding with Workers' Memorial Day. The campaign promotes a "culture of prevention" across governments, employers, and workers through tripartite social dialogue. Each year focuses on emerging risks: 2025 explored AI and digitalization impacts on OSH (opportunities like hazard-detecting robots, risks like work intensification); previous years addressed violence/harassment prevention. The campaign supports ILO Conventions 155 (OSH) and 187 (Promotional Framework for OSH). Key messages: 2.93 million workers die annually from work-related factors; 395 million sustain non-fatal injuries. Safe work is a fundamental principle and right at work since 2022 ILC decision.