Tuomo Poutiainen, the Country Director of ILO in Bangladesh expressed happiness on the impressive progress in gender parity within Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector during an event in Chittagong.
At the Gender Equality and Returns: Advancing Women Leadership, Skills Development and Productivity in the Supply Chain gathering, stakeholders from the RMG industry showcased the Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR) initiative. Poutiainen highlighted how the RMG sector’s strides in gender equality serve as both a moral imperative and an effective strategy for economic growth.
The collaborative GEAR initiative, developed by ILO and the IFC Better Work programme, has successfully trained 800 female workers since 2016, with 528 advancing to supervisory roles.
Poutiainen expressed the ILO’s commitment to expanding GEAR, fostering a more inclusive workforce, and driving tangible improvements in productivity and competitiveness.
While acknowledging GEAR’s achievements, speakers at the event emphasised the need for collaborative action from various stakeholders, including the Government, factory owners, buyers, development partners, UN agencies, and civil society organisations (CSOs).
They underscored the importance of these joint efforts in creating a more equitable garment industry, reinforcing the ILO’s dedication to fostering positive change in the sector.
