Since the beginning of operations in 2011, Better Work Nicaragua has conducted a total of 175 assessments. To date, over 15 factories completed cycle 5, or five years within our programme or beyond, an indicator of the lasting relationships and high retention rate of our initiative. The following non-compliance rates encompass a group of factories that has been assessed for five consecutive years, providing both an accurate depiction of trends and a dynamic overview of the improvement process. The analysis combines non-compliance data collected by Better Work Nicaragua’s Enterprise Advisors through unannounced assessments and qualitative narratives from our operational experience, which corroborate the results of our regular initiatives throughout the years.
Significant advances have been made by factories in cycle 5, specifically in the area of OSH, which saw the highest levels of non- compliance when they began their engagement with Better Work Nicaragua (below). The combination of factory services provided by the programme and activities in partnership with national tripartite stakeholders have driven improvements in the use of chemicals and hazardous substances, emergency preparedness, health services and first aid, the establishment
of sound OSH management systems and adequate welfare facilities. Improving working environments, particularly with respect to ventilation, temperature and illumination, as well as the provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), remain important areas for future programme activities.