ILO Better Work Program - Garment Industry Standards
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.
Theme Areas
Behavior Goal
Transform factory management practices to respect worker rights; reduce harassment and abuse; close gender pay gaps; improve worker-management dialogue and cooperation
Target Audiences
Methods & Approaches
Channels
Implementers & Partners
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Donors & Sponsors
- IFC
- Multiple development partners
Key Takeaways
- 1Combined assessment + advisory + training approach drives sustained improvement
- 2Female supervisor training increased productivity 22% - business case for gender equality
- 3Worker-management dialogue committees improve communication and trust
- 4Compliance improvements and profitability gains are positively correlated
- 5Better Work Academy enables scale through Train the Trainer model