Introduction

Better Work is a joint programme of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the
International Finance Corporation (IFC) that seeks to advance decent work in supply chains by focusing on improving working conditions and competitiveness, primarily in export-oriented garment and textile factories. The programme takes a multi-level intervention approach that includes direct work in enterprises to assess working conditions, and to advise on continuous improvement strategies. Better Work also serves a significant convening role at the sectoral and national level in countries to promote social dialogue and advance strategic planning among sector stakeholders. The programme has a significant footprint in the Asia-Pacific region, where the bulk of the world’s ready-made garments (RMG) are produced for export. Better Work operates in the following countries in the region, listed in order of the year the programme was established: Cambodia (2001), Viet Nam (2009), Indonesia (2011), Bangladesh, (2014), Pakistan (2022), and Sri Lanka (2022). The programme’s unique access to a large number of enterprises at the foundation of the RMG manufacturing industry has enabled the programme to collect a significant amount of granular data regarding compliance with national labour law and international labour standards. The regular compliance assessments conducted by the programme offer a robust snapshot of conditions that can be used by factory management and workers as a basis for joint problem solving and continuous improvement activities. Aggregated, the compliance data collected by Better Work enables a sector-wide assessment of progress in advancing decent work. Analysis and knowledge generated by the programme enables the ILO’s tripartite constituents, including those who provide oversight of the Better Work programme in global and national advisory committees, to engage in evidence-based discussions. These discussions can be informed by insights into how labour regulations, and gaps in adherence to standards, are affecting workers and businesses alike. Better Work also engages in direct partnership with international brands sourcing garments globally, providing insights into working conditions in supply chains and guidance on furthering responsible business practices.

Industry Context

This brief reviews progress and persistent challenges in achieving decent work in the garment sector in the Asia and Pacific region. It draws on regional estimates generated by the ILO and leveraging unique, firm-level granular insights from the most recent five rounds of compliance assessments in selected factories across four Better Work countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Viet Nam. The Better Work programme, and the insights it can leverage from data collection in a key industrial sector in supply chains, provides a meaningful entry point for engagement on the topic of how trade, investment, and responsible business conduct can build a foundation for decent work.