Textiles, clothing, leather and footwear sector
The sector is characterized by geographically dispersed production and dynamic market-driven transformations. It contributes significantly to economic and social development and provides employment opportunities to millions of workers worldwide, especially young women.
The future of work in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear is increasingly uncertain. The tragedy of the Rana Plaza collapse brought worldwide attention to the urgent need to improve workplace safety and working conditions in line with the ILO Code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear. A just transition is key to advancing sustainability, circularity and decent work in the sector.
Code of practice
The purpose of this code is to provide practical guidance for the use of all those, both in the public and private sectors, who have obligations, responsibilities, duties and rights regarding safety and health in the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industries.
Programmes and projects
Joint ILO IFC programme
The Better Work Programme
Safety and Health for All
Vision Zero Fund
Supply chains for a sustainable future of work
Sustainable supply chains to build forward better
Advancing Decent Work and inclusive industrialization in Ethiopia
Meetings and events
Virtual, 18-20 October 2021
Towards a More Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Garment and Textiles Sector in Asia and the Pacific
Geneva, 4-8 October 2021
Meeting of Experts to discuss and adopt a code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear
Geneva, 23-25 September 2014
Global Dialogue Forum on Wages and Working Hours in the Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industries
News
Labour inspection tool kit in Kenya
Enhancing labour inspection in Kenya through tailored labour inspection tool kits
"(If not for the program), it would have been hard as I would not be able to feed my kids and pay my rent" - Meseret, Ethiopia
Generating evidence and informing policy – The SCORE approach to productivity and competitiveness.
All publications
Challenges and opportunities to advance decent work in five countries and supply chains: A synthesis report
Supply chains
Study on decent work in the textile and clothing industry in Madagascar
Learning from Crisis: Apparel industry experts on mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic and future crisis
Training programmes
Training of the Code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear
The Better Work Academy
ILO | Training Programmes / Factory Improvement Toolset (FIT)