Two large international organizations have created an initiative to
help companies improve labour standards in their global supply chains.
The International Finance Corporation and the International Labour
Organization are to collaborate on a Better Work programme to support
ethical supply chain management in the garments and footwear and
electronic equipment and light manufacturing sectors.
The initiative will build on existing ILO projects such as its Better
Factories Cambodia programme, which has brought together the Cambodian
government, employers, unions and international buyers to improve
workplace conditions through monitoring, raising standards at poorly
performing factories, and training managers and workers.
Rachel Kyte, director of the IFC’s environment and social development
department, said the intention was to ‘provide companies in emerging
markets with new tools and even stronger evidence of the business case
for responsible practices’. Better Work will run in the Middle East,
Southern Africa and East Asia.
