Doãn Giang May 4 2018 12:00AM GMT + 7
The Better Work programme particularly benefits women, who in Vietnam make up 80 per cent of the workforce in the garment sector, one of the country’s largest industries. For many, the factory jobs are their first experience with formal employment. Here are the stories of five women who work in factories enrolled with Better Work in Vietnam:
Better Work – a joint programme of the ILO and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – is active in eight countries, reaching more than two million workers and has been operating in Vietnam since 2009. Just over 500 garment factories, with a workforce of 700,000, participate in the programme in the country.
A major study carried out for the programme has shown that garment factories that provide decent, good quality jobs and treat workers fairly can be a powerful driver of women’s empowerment and help bring lasting benefits to them, their families, and their communities.
As a result of their participation in the Better Work programme, factories have steadily improved compliance with ILO core labour standards and national legislation covering compensation, contracts, occupational safety and health and working time. This has significantly improved working conditions and, at the same time enhanced factories’ productivity and profitability.
Doan Giang
