Sustainable Apparel Forum 2024

Bangladesh apparel industry leaders embrace Sustainability Agenda

About Us

Better Work promotes decent work and competitiveness in the global garment industry

A partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, Better Work unites governments, employers' and workers' organizations, global brands, factory owners and workers to improve working conditions in the global apparel and footwear industry and make the sector more competitive.

Our work

Our factory engagement model creates lasting, positive change via tools like assessments, advisory services and training, complementing Better Work’s sectoral and national level engagement to change policies, attitudes and behaviour. By sharing our approach and the results of our on-the-ground work, we seek to inform policy making to promote decent work and better business in the garment industry.

Where We Work

On-the-ground in 13 countries across three continents, we create lasting and measurable impact in the industry
Global
Bangladesh
Cambodia
Egypt
Ethiopia
Haiti
Indonesia
Jordan
Madagascar
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Viet Nam
Uzbekistan

Global Overview

Better Work unites governments, global brands, factory owners, unions and workers to improve working conditions in the global apparel and footwear industry and make the sector more competitive. It has programmes in twelve countries
Countries

13

Brands and Retailers

47

Factories

2,186

Workers

3,412,765

Our Partners

We bring all levels of the garment industry together to improve working conditions and drive sustainability
Workers

Workers & Unions

We help workers realize their rights and enhance their ability to engage in productive dialogue with employers
Governments

Governments

We collaborate with national government bodies to help create effective labour regulation for a sustainable impact
Brands and retailers

Brands and Retailers

Our leading brands and retailers are key partners in realizing workers’ rights and gaining a competitive edge for clothing firms
Factories and manufacturers

Employers

Enterprises are a key partner in our efforts to create better conditions for workers in ways that also support business

Our Evidence

An independent impact assessment of 15,000 workers and 2,000 managers shows that Better Work has:
Increased productivity in factories by up to
22 %
Reduced sexual harassment concerns by
18 %
Increased profitability in factories by up to
25 %
Increased women’s access to prenatal care by
26 %
Decreased gender pay gap by up to
17 %

Our Development Partners

The Better Work Programme is supported by the following key development partners. Additional funding is provided by the factories, participating brands and local donors (see country pages).
federal ministry for economic cooperation and development
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Better Work’s current Strategic Phase: Sustaining our impact in 2022-27 and beyond

Strategic Priorities

Better Work five-year strategy (2022-27) embraces innovation around a set of strategic priorities to adapt to the needs of the garment and footwear industry around the world.

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