Training support for women in supervisory roles leads to higher productivity in the garment factories, a new IFC and ILO assessment shows.
The impact assessment, conducted by the University of Oxford and BRAC JPG SPH on Better Work’s Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR) program, funded by the European Union, were presented in Dhaka on Tuesday
The assessment was conducted across 27 RMG factories in Dhaka and Chittagong and showcased strong impact of the GEAR program, particularly in improving line efficiency and increased gender equality.
GEAR partnered with Global apparel brands such as H & M, M & S, Levi’s, Ralph Lauren, and VF Corporation to implement this program in their supplier factories and helped ensure the high completion and promotion rates.
“GEAR trainees proved to be more effective as supervisors, with the lines managed by them being 4 percent more efficient, a gap that grows with supervisory experience,” said the lead researcher of the study, Professor Christopher Woodruff, Development Economics, University of Oxford.
The findings were presented by the lead researcher during the event, which was followed by panel discussions featuring industry and academia including Dr. Rubana Huq, Vice Chancellor, Asian University for Women and former President of BGMEA; Faisal Samad, Director, BGMEA; Mohammad Zahidullah, Chief Sustainability Officer, DBL; Prodip Gabriel, Social Program Manager, H&M and Md. Mahbub Ur Rahman, CEO, HSBC amongst others.
