ILO, 2015-2018, Improving Industrial Relations, textile ind

The IR Garment Sector project demonstrated good achievements towards reaching results at factory level or even exceeding some targets, while less visible results can be observed at national and regional level. The impact of the project was more pronounced at the enterprise level than either at regional or national levels. One reason for this result appears to be the nature of the project activities planned at the different levels. Whereas the activities at the enterprise level were relatively more concrete as they were based on identified gaps, the targets at the regional and national levels were more difficult to achieve because of circumstances beyond the control of the project i.e.(staff turnover, shortage of staff and budget constraints) that hindered smooth implementation of the project plans. At the enterprise level, the project has impacted the beneficiaries positively through its capacity building activities (mainly training) in terms of their awareness (e.g., about their rights and obligations and family planning), knowledge (about OSH as assessed before and after the training), skills (of developing policies independently and conducting risk assessment), and attitudes (toward wise use of time or time management, saving money, working overtime and using personal protection equipment). In sum, the capacity building activities appeared to have impacted a large number of employees. Impacts were reported more by factory workers than by the management. Besides, the impacts appeared to differ from factory to factory. Strengthening of the system (developing policies, establishing committees or departments and centers and more importantly basic trade unions) also has an impact in improving the working conditions, in decreasing the number of disputes, in increasing peaceful resolution of disputes through bipartite discussion, and in reducing the number of workplace accidents. These impacts were observed in few factories. In the majority of factories, however, the established committees were not as productive and effective as those in the other few factories and this is attributed to the weak commitment of the management. Finally, it is logical to argue that the significant decrease or complete absence of strikes, improved work ethics, and fewer workplace accidents, among other things, do impact productivity positively even though this cannot be directly observed. Besides, limited empirical data from few factories confirmed that the project activities have impacted productivity of factories positively. Examples of concrete results of the program are:  More than 24 000 workers, 12 enterprises, 1300 officials, 421 trade unions leaders and 200 labour inspectors have been directly targeted and reached during the project. Productivity has increased in several factories, working conditions including salaries have been improved, occupational safety have improved and accidents reduced. Female participation in the unions have been strengthened and disputes have been dealt with at factory level rather than at court level. The project has also been instrumental in providing studies and baselines and provide the government with strategic input in new law as well as policies, for example the new labour law and occupational safety and health policies. The intervention has worked smoothly and ILO and H&M have been good partners. Sida, ILO and H&M have meet on regular basis to discuss the progress of the project.  

The objectives of the project/programme are to contribute to national development through improved labour relations, productivity, wages and decent working conditions in the textile and garment industry. This will be achieved through three immediate objectives;1. Conducive environment created to address challenges of building decent working conditions, sound labour relations and socially responsible manufacturing industries in the textile and garment sector.2. Improved capacity of tripartite partners for labour law enforcement, mulit-employers bargaining, improve productivity, wages, working conditions, social and labour compliance at sectorial and enterprise level.3. Capacity in place for improved labour relations, higher productivity and decent working conditions, at the participating enterprises.