New ILO Report Highlights Decline in Compliance in Garment Sector

Phnom Penh (17 July 2013): Better Factories Cambodia released its 30th Synthesis Report on Working Conditions in Cambodia's Garment Sector on 17 July 2013.

Download Full Report in English

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Below is the Press Release from BFC.  

BFC’s 30th Synthesis Report Highlights Decline in Garment Sector Conditions Since 2011

 

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Improvements are not being made in key areas of working conditions including fire safety, child labor, and worker safety and health according to the latest Synthesis Report released by the International Labour Organization’s Better Factories Cambodia program (BFC).

 

BFC’s latest Synthesis Report compares its most recent data on garment sector conditions to data collected over the past eight years and finds that conditions have been declining in several key areas since 2011.

 

“Release of our 30th Synthesis Report provides us with the opportunity to take a long term view.  Unfortunately, our data shows that following steady improvement in working conditions from 2005 to 2011, conditions are now declining. Some of the non-compliance may be attributed to the industry’s rapid growth since 2011.  Still, all stakeholders need to take stronger steps to halt the downward trend. If not, Cambodia runs the risk of forfeiting the advantages that accrue to a reputation for decent working conditions” said Jill Tucker, Chief Technical Advisor of ILO-Better Factories Cambodia.

U.N. Hoping to Expand Fair-Labor Program to Bangladesh

The Wall Street Journal
By Kate O’Keeffe
July 6, 2013

A United Nations program credited with making some improvements to working conditions in Cambodia’s garment industry could soon open up shop in Bangladesh, where the industry’s worst-ever disaster killed over 1,100 in April.

Inspectors from BW Countries Attending Academy

By Sophal
November 2011

Turin, Italy: Eight Labour Inspectors from Better Work Country Programmes attended a two-week Academy on Labour Administration and Labour Inspection in Turin International Training Centre.  The inspectors are from Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, Lesotho, and Vietnam.  There are around 132 Labour Inspectors in Jordan while there are approximately 200 in Cambodia.

The first-week academy focused on system, approaches and functions of Labour Inspection with the link to the ILO Convention 81.  It also reflected the system of labour administration, the employment relationship to the Labour Administration and Inspection as well as public/private partnership.  Speakers from both Turin Training Centre and the Social Dialogue -- Labour Administration and Labour Inspection Programme.  The roles of Labour Ministries in coping with crises and the roles of social partners are also discussed.

The second-week combined the study visit and lectures on National OSH, How to Conduct a Labour Inspection Visit, OSH Visit, Labour Inspection and Gender Equality, and Labour Inspection--Child Labour.

                    Labour Inspectors from Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, Lesotho, and Vietnam

‘Forced overtime’ claim in H&M mass fainting

The Phnom Penh Post
THURSDAY, 25 AUGUST 2011 15:03 TEP NIMOL AND VINCENT MACISAAC  

Staff at the garment factory in Kampong Chnnang where more than 100 workers fainted on Tuesday morning while making knitwear for global brand H&M had been forced to work overtime of up to six hours a day for about two months prior to the incident, a representative of their union said yesterday.

“The factory’s boss forced workers to work an extra four to six hours a day during the past two months,” union representative Norn Leakhena said, adding that from January to March they were forced to 
work until 11:00pm. She also said fainting was commonplace at the factory, especially in areas adjacent to the laundry room, which emitted fumes that made workers dizzy. 

An executive with M&V International Manufacturing Ltd, however, denied allegations of forced overtime and a toxic working environment, saying the fainting was caused by a “strange psychological phenomenon”.

“In China, this kind of thing is unthinkable. We can’t understand how this happens so often in Cambodia,” said the executive who declined to identify himself by name. 

“The workers don’t pass out at once, they pass out in succession. One worker passes out, and when another sees this and she passes out, then another and another and another. It’s beyond my comprehension,” he explained.

The factory is run by a Macau-owned company that produces items for several global brands, including Benetton and H&M, at factories in China and Cambodia. 

The Kampong Chnnang facility produces knitwear for H&M, the executive confirmed.

He said poor health was an underlying cause of the fainting. “The workers’ health is poor. They don’t eat breakfast and come to work very tired.” 

Moeun Tola, head of the labour programme at the Community Legal Education Center, said factory staff reported that at least three or four workers fainted every day at the facility after inhaling an insecticide sprayed inside it. He also pointed to the legal wage, about US 30 cents an hour, as an underlying cause. 

“The monthly $61 basic salary [for 48 hours per week] is insufficient so employees have to work overtime. They don’t get enough sleep and they don’t get enough to eat so they are susceptible to fainting,” he said. 

The factory was inspected by monitors from the International Labour Organisation earlier this month as part of its Better Factories Cambodia programme, ILO communications officer Ying Bun said.  He also said that the factory would be inspected again. 

“When an incident such as mass fainting happens, our monitoring team visits, and approaches the factory, workers, unions, and victims to seek further information and keep buyers informed,” he said. 

Ying Bun said that Better Factories Cambodia did not disclose information on particular factories, but provides an overview of the industry and allows each company to decide for itself whether it will disclose the results of the ILO monitoring to its potential suppliers. 

It released a report earlier this month that found that garment factories were, for the most part, compliant with national laws and international labour standards.

Factories Plagued With Non-Compliance: Survey

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
17 August 2011


Problems with worker health, work security and overtime continue to plague the garment sector, according to a new survey.

The International Labor Organization’s “Better Factories Cambodia” survey of 186 factories found that the challenges in the sector will be “difficult” to resolve.

Laborers in Cambodia’s main economic earner have long complained of poor conditions and long overtime, and in recent months, a spate of factory faintings have been reported.

The sector provides around 300,000 jobs and more than $2 billion a year in exports.

The survey also found a rise in workplace discrimination and a 21 percent rise in labor strikes over the last six months.

“The report shows that compliance [to the law] is limited,” said Bun Ying, a spokesman for the ILO.

The survey found that seven of ten “non-compliance” issues at factories were related to the health of workers and their overtime.

Chea Mony, head of the Free Trade Union, said a lack of compliance in Cambodian factories had led to at least 70 strikes since January, and the loss of consciousness of perhaps 1,000 workers, either because of toxic fumes or overwork.

However, Cheat Khemara, a senior official at the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, or GMAC, said in general the working environment at Cambodian factories has improved. The association was pushing factories to improve, he said.

Officials at the Ministry of Labor either declined to comment or could not be reached Wednesday.

Gov’t set to align labor policies with int’l standards

Source: Malaysia Business Insight

The Philippines is moving to align labor policies in the garment sector with international standards to push a proposed United States measure giving preferential treatment to Philippine garments.

Trade Undersecretary Cristino L. Panlilio said officials of the Garments and Textile Industry Development Office and the Department of Labor and Employment are holding meetings to "develop and adopt a labor compliance program for the local garment industry along the lines of the ILO Better Work Program."

Panlilio did not provide details on the initiative but said leaders of both the garment industry and workers’ unions are enthusiastic in doing their part to push the proposed US Save Our Industries Act.

The proposed measure seeks to grant duty-free treatment to certain apparel products wholly assembled in the Philippines, provided that these are made from US fabrics. It also seeks to levy a lower tariff on products made from US yarns.

In addition, the bill seeks to grant duty-free treatment to a limited range of Philippine exports of "cut and sew" apparel that are not produced in the US and, thus, deemed non-sensitive.

Better Work is a unique partnership program between the ILO and the International Finance Corp. launched in February 2007 that aims to improve both compliance with labor standards and competitiveness in global supply chains.

The Philippines lobbied hard for the passage of the bill but the last US Congress failed to act on. The Philippines has relaunched a campaign for filing the same bill in the current 11th US Congress.

Panlilio said several US legislators are at the forefront of introducing the Save Act in their respective chambers. They are Sen. Daniel Inouye, Senate president pro tempore and chairman of the appropriations committee; Sen. John Ensign, member of the Senate finance committee; Congressman Jim McDermott, ranking member of the House ways and means trade subcommittee; Congressmen Charles Boustany and Erik Paulsen, members of the House ways and means committee, and Congressmen Brian Bilbray and Bob Filner, co-chairmen of the US-Philippines Congressional Friendship Caucus.

According to Panlilio, securing more co-sponsors in both chambers will be one of the major objectives of the campaign.

Panlilio said the advisory contract with Sorini, Samet & Associates (SSA) had been renegotiated effective March 1.

SSA and Ambassador to Washington Romulo Manlapig will lead the campaign, supported by Filipino-American community leaders.
Panlilio said newly appointed Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia is also very keen on championing the Save Act.

"President Aquino has made clear the importance of the Save Act to the Philippines, as have other officials in the Philippine government in meetings with US counterparts. We believe US officials are well aware of the priority the President gives to the Save Act initiative pending with the US Congress and we will continue to encourage favorable consideration of the bill," Panlilio.

According to its website, Better Work involves the development of both global tools and country-level projects, with a focus on scalable and sustainable solutions that build cooperation among governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations and international buyers.

As the program acknowledges that improving compliance with labor standards in global supply chains is an important part of a pro-poor development strategy, Better Work ensures protection of workers’ rights and entitlements as well as compliance with labor standards.

Nicaragua, pionera en trabajo ético

Por: Roberto Fonseca, el domingo, 26 de diciembre de 2010, http://www.estrategiaynegocios.net/

Representante de la OIT en la región, Virgilio Levaggi, y secretaria del Trabajo de EE.UU, Hilda Solís.

Este año, la secretaria de Trabajo de Estados Unidos, Hilda Solís, llegó al país con dos propósitos. Entrar en contacto con sus raíces nicaragüenses, visitando a sus familiares en Jinotega, zona norte y participar en el lanzamiento oficial del programa Better Work Nicaragua, que se impulsará de forma pionera en esa nación centroamericana. Better Work es un novedoso programa de colaboración entre la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) y la Corporación Financiera Internacional (IFC), cuyo objetivo es mejorar el cumplimiento de las normas laborales en las cadenas globales de suministro, tanto para proteger los derechos de los trabajadores como para ayudar a las empresas a ser más competitivas. El programa surgió en Cambodia, una década atrás, con el nombre de Better Factories Cambodia, donde los resultados e impacto fueron notables en ese tiempo. Ha contribuido a la imagen del país como proveedor de prendas de vestir producidas de forma ética, lo que ha convocado al aumento de firmas compradoras de prestigio y al crecimiento del empleo en la nación asiática, al pasar de 100.000 a 300.000 trabajadores, entre el 2000 y el 2009. Además de la secretaria Solís, al lanzamiento oficial en la capital nicaragüense acudieron la ministra del Trabajo de Nicaragua, Jeannette Chávez, y Virgilio Levaggi, representante de la OIT para Centroamérica, Panamá, Haití y República Dominicana. También participaron, en calidad de testigos de honor, líderes del sector textil y confección de las zonas francas, del sector privado nicaragüense y de los diversos sindicatos. “El programa Better Work va a favorecer a los trabajadores y al sector privado, y va a apoyar el desarrollo de la maquila textil en Nicaragua”, destacó Solís. El objetivo del plan, precisamente, es contribuir a la creación de oportunidades de trabajo decente, en este caso en el segmento exportador de vestuario. El sector textil y confección, según cifras oficiales nicaragüenses, es uno de los más desarrollados en el régimen de zonas francas. Comprende alrededor de 70 fábricas, que corresponden a inversiones nacionales, taiwanesas, estadounidenses, coreanas y mexicanas, entre otras. Se estima que brinda empleo a más de 50.000 personas, de ambos sexos. Pero a la vez, este es uno de los sectores más golpeados por la crisis financiera y la recesión que experimentó Estados Unidos, a partir de septiembre del 2008 y que se extendió a lo largo del 2009. Se estima que producto de esta recesión y reducción de la demanda se perdieron alrededor de 17.000 plazas laborales y se desplomaron las exportaciones. Sin embargo, en el 2010 se ha registrado una mejoría y un repunte tanto en la generación de empleo como en las exportaciones. Diálogo social El representante de la OIT en Centroamérica, Panamá, Haití y República Dominicana, Virgilio Levaggi, conversó con Estrategia & Negocios y explicó que, gracias a la experiencia de Cambodia como país piloto, se adecuó la metodología y se extendió posteriormente a otras naciones asiáticas y africanas. Levaggi aseveró que siempre hubo interés de desarrollar un proyecto piloto en las Américas y se seleccionó a Haití, país caribeño donde estaba arrancando el programa Better Work cuando se produjo el mortal terremoto de enero pasado. En ese momento se volvieron los ojos hacia Nicaragua, donde se estaba registrando un proceso inédito y aleccionador. En el 2009, el gobierno nicaragüense, por medio de las autoridades de la Comisión Nacional de Zonas Francas, reconoció la necesidad de generar estabilidad laboral, predictibilidad y competitividad entre los inversionistas en zonas francas, por lo tanto, convocó a empresarios y sindicalistas de ese régimen para negociar el salario mínimo a corto y mediano plazo. De ese proceso inédito surgió el Acuerdo de emergencia económica y laboral, el cual estableció por consenso tripartito que el reajuste al salario mínimo en ese sector para el 2009 sería del 8% y en el 2010, del 12%. A la par, se comprometieron a desarrollar comisariatos –ventas de productos de la canasta básica a precios más bajos  para contribuir al salario real de los trabajadores de las zonas francas. “No te voy a negar que había otros países, pero nos pareció que aquí había condiciones particulares. Yo, personalmente, respeto mucho el tema del diálogo social en zonas francas, porque la capacidad de negociar salarios que han tenido con proyección de dos años en la primera negociación y tres años en la segunda, es algo que no lo ves usualmente”, apuntó Levaggi. En su criterio, ha habido una reacción inteligente a la crisis, mediante el consenso y lo ve como una virtud de las autoridades de la Comisión Nacional de Zonas Francas, de los dirigentes empresariales del sector textil y confección y de los líderes sindicales. En el 2010, los miembros de la Comisión Tripartita Laboral de Zonas Francas volvieron a sentarse y surgió un nuevo acuerdo salarial multianual (periodo 2011-2013), en el que se establecen ajustes salariales a partir del 1 de enero de cada año, por 8, 9 y 10%, respectivamente. Además, acordaron esfuerzos conjuntos en el ámbito de viviendas sociales, comisariatos, centros recreativos, etc. La meta es recuperar entre 7.000 y 10.000 empleos perdidos, como resultado de la crisis y la recesión. Todo este proceso de diálogo social los hizo reafirmar su interés en impulsar el programa Better Work en Nicaragua. “Un factor que ayudó notablemente para que comencemos con Nicaragua es el nivel de modernidad que tiene el sector empresarial acá y sus dirigentes gremiales, asimismo, una visión más o menos responsable que yo encuentro en sus dirigentes sindicales. Si tenemos las mismas condiciones en otros países centroamericanos, se podría avanzar”, insistió el representante de OIT en Centroamérica, Panamá, Haití y República Dominicana. Levaggi prevé que el programa Better Work Nicaragua empiece a inicios del 2011 en todas las fábricas del sector textil y confección de zonas francas. Al respecto, recordó que esta alianza entre la OIT y la Corporación Financiera Internacional (IFC), pretende aumentar la competitividad de la industria a través de la mejora del desempeño económico de las empresas, del nivel de cumplimiento de las normas laborales nicaragüenses y de la Declaración de Principios y Derechos Fundamentales en el Trabajo de la OIT. Según documentación oficial de la OIT, su metodología se fundamenta en dos ejes principales: primero, evaluación del nivel de cumplimiento de las normas laborales y segundo, apoyo a las empresas para tomar e implementar medidas correctivas, por medio de los servicios de capacitación y entrenamiento ofertados por el programa a las empresas, incluyendo a sus trabajadores. El propósito final es encaminar al país hacia la oferta de empleo decente. En el caso de Nicaragua, los actores del programa son el Ministerio del Trabajo, institución que representa al gobierno; la Comisión Nacional de Zonas Francas, empresa estatal que crea y administra el régimen de zonas francas en el país; la organización de empresarios y empleadores y finalmente, las organizaciones sindicales. “Creo que todos los actores del programa tienen que encontrar incentivos adecuados para involucrarse y lograr el éxito del proyecto. Pero es importante que se respeten en primer lugar los derechos fundamentales de los trabajadores, mejorar sus condiciones de trabajo, los salarios que devengan, así como ciertos beneficios de salud, de acceso a productos más asequibles de la canasta básica, es decir, elementos del llamado salario nominal”, concluyó Lovaggi.

LESOTHO: Better Work programme launches in Africa

Source:

By: just-style.com | 21 December 201

Buyers from Gap Inc, Levi Strauss and Wal-Mart attended the launch earlier this month of the Better Work programme in Lesotho – the first time the scheme, which aims to improve working conditions in the garment sector, has been rolled out in Africa.

The initiative, which was first developed in Cambodia ten years ago, will help Lesotho’s garment factories improve compliance with national labour law and the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) core international labour standards.

It will also promote the industry – where garment factories employ around 40,000 workers, mainly women, and account for about 80% of Lesotho’s manufacturing jobs – to international buyers and investors.
“Gap Inc has collaborated with Better Works since its inception in Cambodia, and has supported its expansion into Jordan, Haiti, Vietnam, and now Lesotho,” said Cathy Dix, manager, global responsibility for Gap Inc.

“We believe partnerships are key to improving global working conditions, and look forward to working with Better Work and other brands in Lesotho.”

The Better Work programme is a partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

US Department of Labor announces a grant of more than $5 million for Better Work program in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam

Source: Trading Markets.Com

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:33:22 EST

Symbols: IFK

Dec 16, 2010 (Labor Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) --
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a grant award of more than $5.3 million to the International Labor Organization to support the global Better Work program by implementing projects in Bangladesh and continuing projects in Cambodia and Vietnam. The grant was awarded by the department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs.

Better Work is a unique partnership program of the International Labor Organization and the International Finance Corp. that seeks to improve labor conditions in global supply chains. The Better Work program monitors conditions in export factories, publishes the results in a transparent manner and assists suppliers to comply with labor standards that many buyers and customers demand.

"The goal is to replicate this highly successful strategy, first developed in Cambodia 10 years ago, in countries that protect their workers' rights while promoting development," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.
Under the grant, the Better Work program will focus on compliance with labor standards in the garment and other industries in these three countries. The project will engage the ministries of labor, factory managers, multinational buyers, employer organizations and trade unions, and provide guidance and solutions to improve compliance with labor laws in ways that increase the viability of companies, as well as the livelihoods and working conditions of workers.

ILAB News Release: [12/15/2010]
Contact Name: Gloria Della or Clarisse Young
Phone Number: (202) 693-8666 or x5051
Release Number: 10-1718-NAT
For full details on (IFK) IFK. (IFK) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on (IFK) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

Videos on Better Factoreis Cambodia and Better Work

Videos on Better Factoreis Cambodia and Better Work
10 Years-Better Factories to Better Work (Part 1 of 2)
10 Years-Better Factories to Better Work (Part 2 of 2)


Better Work is a unique partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The programme was launched in order to improve labour practices and competitiveness in global supply chains.

Better Work supports enterprises in improving their labour standards based on core ILO labour standards and national labour law. This helps enterprises compete in global markets where many buyers demand compliance with labour standards from their suppliers.

Improving labour standards can help enterprises become more competitive by increasing quality and productivity.

IFC-ILO Better Work Conference Promotes Improved Labor Standards, Increased Competitiveness

Source: Web Newswire
Submitted by editor on November 23, 2009 - 04:00

IFC and ILO are hosting a conference, Harnessing Global Incentives for Development, to discuss lessons learned in the past decade from experiences of Better Factories Cambodia, an initiative under the joint IFC-ILO Better Work partnership program. Launched in 2006, Better Work seeks to improve labor standards and competitiveness in global supply chains.

The conference highlights successful elements that led to the growth of Cambodias textile sector, such as increasing dialogue at the factory level, implementing dispute settlement mechanisms, building mature industrial relations, and improving the investment climate.

Collaboration among government, local industry leaders, and international brands continues to be instrumental in achieving the success that Better Work Factories and Better Work have experienced in the last 10 years, said Greg Radford, IFC Director for Environment and Social Development. While millions of workers are benefiting from these commitments, companies are becoming more competitive in the global marketplace and more likely to weather the financial crisis.

Major apparel companies that support the Better Work program also are attending the conference, including American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc, Jones Apparel, Levi Strauss & Co, Martha Stewart Living, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Walt Disney, and Wal-mart. The valued supporters will contribute a multistakeholder perspective.

Better Work is supported widely by international buyers and local suppliers. This has made a significant impact on the lives of workers and their families, the performance of enterprises, and the economic and social development of the countries involved, said Ros Harvey, Global Director for the Better Work program.

IFC is the only international financial institution focused exclusively on the private sector, the engine of sustainable development in emerging markets. Along with IBRD, it is currently seeking a capital increase to strengthen its ability to create opportunity for the poor in developing countries-including by helping improve labor standards to benefit millions of workers and businesses worldwide.

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

For more information about ILO, visit www.ilo.org.

For more information about Better Work, visit www.betterwork.org.

IFC-ILO Better Work Conference Promotes Improved Labor Standards, Increased Competitiveness

The Financial
20/11/2009 14:10 (21:27 minutes ago)

The FINANCIAL -- IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the International Labour Organization are meeting on November 19 with governments, garment industry leaders, and labor-related organizations to promote labor standards for millions of workers and expand efforts to increase companies’ competitiveness in global markets.



"IFC and ILO are hosting a conference, Harnessing Global Incentives for Development, to discuss lessons learned in the past decade from experiences of Better Factories Cambodia, an initiative under the joint IFC-ILO Better Work partnership program. Launched in 2006, Better Work seeks to improve labor standards and competitiveness in global supply chains," IFC reported.



The conference highlights successful elements that led to the growth of Cambodia’s textile sector, such as increasing dialogue at the factory level, implementing dispute settlement mechanisms, building mature industrial relations, and improving the investment climate.



“Collaboration among government, local industry leaders, and international brands continues to be instrumental in achieving the success that Better Work Factories and Better Work have experienced in the last 10 years,” said Greg Radford, IFC Director for Environment and Social Development. “While millions of workers are benefiting from these commitments, companies are becoming more competitive in the global marketplace and more likely to weather the financial crisis.”



Major apparel companies that support the Better Work program also are attending the conference, including American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc, Jones Apparel, Levi Strauss & Co, Martha Stewart Living, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Walt Disney, and Wal-mart. The valued supporters will contribute a multistakeholder perspective.



“Better Work is supported widely by international buyers and local suppliers. This has made a significant impact on the lives of workers and their families, the performance of enterprises, and the economic and social development of the countries involved,” said Ros Harvey, Global Director for the Better Work program.



IFC is the only international financial institution focused exclusively on the private sector, the engine of sustainable development in emerging markets. Along with IBRD, it is currently seeking a capital increase to strengthen its ability to create opportunity for the poor in developing countries—including by helping improve labor standards to benefit millions of workers and businesses worldwide.

I Am Precious competition finalists

I Am Precious competition finalists
— filed under: Article

Twenty finalists who submitted their design of dresses and t-shirts will display their works and the winners announced and presented awards at this event in Phnom Penh, organized by the ILO Better Factories Cambodia project.

29 November 2009I am Precious



Award presentation for the I am Precious campaign finalists

The ILO Better Factories Cambodia project and its partners are organizing the final event of a 4 month long campaign which provided an opportunity for garment workers to display their talents and creativity. Almost 500 garment workers submitted over one thousand designs of dresses and t-shirts to the competition. Twenty finalists have been selected and will display their works at this event. A jury panel will announce and present awards to the winners--3 each for the dress and t-shirt categories.

The aim of the campaign is to promote garment workers’ increasing awareness of their work and encourage them to realize their value, to showcase rewarding careers in the industry, and to broaden opportunities for them to contribute their abilities and skills to the industry as well as the society.

For information on the 20 finalists click here

For more information, please contact:
Mr Tuomo Poutiainen
Chief Technical Advisor
ILO Better Factories Cambodia
Email pouiainen@ilo.org

Ms. Pol Vanna
ILO Better Factories Cambodia
Phone: +855-23 212 847
Email vanna@ilo.org

ILO and IFC Help Improve Conditions for Factory Workers

Source: EHS Today
Nov 16, 2009 10:13 AM, By Sandy Smith

An innovative approach to supply chain relationships has shown that factories with improved compliance to labor standards are considerably more likely to survive the economic crisis.

Better Work, a joint program of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corp. (IFC), has been helping enterprises that are linked to global supply chains gain competitive advantage through better labor standards. The program – focused on industries such as agriculture, apparel, light manufacturing, transportation, construction and electronics – offers sustainable solutions that build cooperation between government, employer and worker organizations and international buyers.

On Nov. 19, a meeting of business executives, government officials, unions, employer organizations, opinion leaders and policymakers will take place at the IFC in Washington, D.C., to discuss the results of the program and its expansion. The meeting, “Harnessing Global Incentives for Development,” will explore strategies for using trade and supply chain relationships to improve working conditions and promote competitiveness in global supply chains.

The event marks the 10th Anniversary of the U.S./Cambodia Bilateral Textile agreement that helped establish Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) by offering bonus market access in exchange for improvement in labour standards.

PR: IFC-ILO Better Work partnership scales up to improve labor standards in developing countries

IFC-ILO Better Work partnership scales up to improve labor standards in developing countries

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are scaling up their Better Work partnership to help raise labor standards in global supply chains, which will improve the lives of about 1.2 million workers in developing countries.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ILO News) – IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are scaling up their Better Work partnership to help raise labor standards in global supply chains, which will improve the lives of about 1.2 million workers in developing countries.

The two institutions today signed a new cooperation agreement that will consolidate efforts to improve labor standards and continue to promote the business case for better working conditions. This will allow the Better Work Program to respond more quickly to changes in market conditions in this time of crisis.

“This new structure solidifies the partnership between the ILO and IFC and streamlines the management process so that Better Work can effectively expand activities to continue improving labor standards in global supply chains,” said George Dragnich, ILO Executive Director for Social Dialogue. “Better Work is an important contribution to implementing the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and especially important in this time of economic crisis which puts workers and their families at risk.”

The first phase of this initiative established the Better Work global program and activities in the garment industries of Jordan, Vietnam and Haiti. The second phase will focus 80 percent of its effort on scaling up its engagement in the apparel industry and 20 percent on diversifying to new industries and extending access to Better Work tools for improving compliance with labor standards. This effort will start in July 2009 and continue for three years.

“The continuation of IFC and ILO’s cooperation comes at a crucial time for ensuring labor standards protection in the private sector,” said Rachel Kyte, IFC Vice President for Business Advisory Services. “In the current crisis, we are seeing large numbers of layoffs and rising underemployment. We need to ensure that IFC is doing all it can to work with the private sector to protect vulnerable workers. Building on this partnership with ILO is the next step in the right direction.”

The Better Work global program is supported by the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Luxembourg, Italy, and New Zealand. The country program are supported by the United States, Jordan, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Finland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. The program is also supported with private-sector contributions from the United States Council Foundation with donations from the Levi Strauss Foundation, Jones Apparel Group, Sears Holding Group, and Wal-Mart.

For more information, visit http://www.betterwork.org.

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

About the International Labour Organization

The ILO was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles and became the first specialized agency of the United Nations system in 1946. Its work in setting and monitoring international labor standards has provided the framework for national labor law and practice in virtually all countries. The ILO's total budget for 2006-2007 is just over $900 million, including a regular budget of $594 million plus $306 million in extra-budgetary funds associated with special technical cooperation projects.

For more information, visit www.ilo.org.

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Helping Haiti may turn on ‘affirmative engagement'

Helping Haiti may turn on ‘affirmative engagement'
By Saeed ShabazzStaff WriterUpdated Apr 22, 2009 - 11:37:24 AM

UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - Forty-speakers addressed the 15-member UN Security on April 6 concerning the commitment of member states to help the people of Haiti move forward with sustainable development.

The discussion is partly-driven by what some see as a need for “affirmative engagement,” a more proactive effort to assist Haiti and proposed economic development strategies that advocates say would help the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

According to the World Bank, the average income for Haiti's 9.6 million people is $560.00 a year. The Haitian ambassador to the UN told the Security Council 78 percent of his countrymen live below the poverty level—making less than two dollars a day—while unemployment is 80 percent. A World Food Program representative told the council some 2.8 million Haitians are malnourished and cut off from roads, markets and basic services.

The UN discussion about the first free Black republic in this hemisphere came as other activity related to Haiti was underway or on the horizon—and as the island nation struggles with political, economic and social challenges. Four back-to-back storms ravaged the already poor country between August and September 2008, comprehensively destroying what little infrastructure existed and hurricane season is back. A UN force remains in Haiti as part of a process to bring stability.

A congressional delegation headed by Michigan Democrat John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, visited Haiti in early April. According to the Associated Press, the group reviewed operations of agencies involved in drug interdiction, legal immigration and humanitarian development. Rep. Conyers congratulated the Haitian government on improvements made to security in the country.

There will be an international donors' conference on April 14 in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank at its headquarters. The Development Bank's general manager for Caribbean nations told the Security Council that the disasters of 2008 called for international financial efforts in Haiti focused on relief and said it was time to review the government's growth and poverty reduction strategies.

On March 9, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and former President Bill Clinton, along with a delegation from the Security Council traveled to the Caribbean nation to urge the government of President René Preval and Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis to focus on garment assembly jobs as a way to reduce poverty and spur economic development.

The Haitian mission chief of the International Monetary Fund told the Security Council that Haitian authorities plan to come to Washington to seek $125 million in budget support and approximately $700 million in project financing.

The flurry of activity falls under what the International Crisis Group defines as “affirmative engagement” that focuses on increasing security and embarking on community development projects to create jobs and improve education and health facilities.

The Crisis Group, an independent think tank that gives analysis to governments and intergovernmental bodies such as the United Nations, said in a position paper that the participants at the donors conference must provide an operational reconstruction plan that would identify government-led, community-approved, high-impact and high-visibility projects to tackle food shortages and build support for national reconstruction projects.

Mr. Ban repeated to the Security Council a message shared during a visit with leaders in Haiti and an op-ed published in the New York Times online: Haiti stands a better chance against the global economic emergency because of the U.S. trade legislation known as HOPE II (the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Partnership Encourage Act) and the country can increase its prosperity because of this legislation, he said.

According to Mr. Ban, HOPE II provides “a golden opportunity to bring in investments and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.”

HOPE II was co-sponsored by Democratic Congressmen Charles Rangel (N.Y.) and Kendrick B. Meek (Fla.) and expands the benefits for U.S. apparel exports from Haiti by allowing for nine years of duty-free, quota-free access to U.S. markets.

The bill also talks about increasing the pay of Haitian garment assembly workers from $4 or $5 a day to $7 a day. “Haitians working in the textile industry will possess the buying power to help stimulate the Haitian economy,” Rep. Meek said on his website.

Dr. Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, urged the Haitian government to take advantage of the legislation. “This program moves Haiti towards genuine economic growth,” she said.

Amb. Rice also cautioned those headed to the donors conference to be careful not to view security and development as separate spheres.

The Security Council issued a statement at the end of the all-day session, noting that the “Council reiterates the need for security to be accompanied by social and economic development as a way for Haiti to achieve everlasting stability.”

During the debate in the Security Council chambers, the Cuban envoy told his colleagues that too much attention about Haiti “centered on so-called security matters while minimizing its grave economic problems. To achieve peace, security and stability, first poverty and underdevelopment in Haiti need to be eliminated,” said Amb. Abelardo Moreno. “There is no peace and security for people in hunger.”

Amb. Leo Merores of Haiti congratulated the international community for continued interest in his nation. “The recent high-level visits have been seen as tangible proof of commitment to rebuild the country. Haitians remain committed to building a modern democratic society, one geared towards sustainable development,” he said.






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