500 garment factories join safety programme

Category: GARMENTS

Country: Netherlands

Region: South Asia

By Simon Glover
4th March 2024

AMSTERDAM - More than 500 garment factories across India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia have now joined the Life and Building Safety (LABS) programme to improve worker safety.

LABS, set up by the Dutch sustainable trade initiative IDH, is dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of workers by fostering a culture of safety in the textile, apparel and footwear manufacturing sector.

The industry-driven programme, supported by global brands and retailers including Gap, Nike, Target, VF Corporation and Walmart, along with government agencies and non-profits, targets preventable risks such as fires, electrical hazards and structural issues.

Since its launch in 2019, it has carried out more than 492 factory assessments, achieving a 77% remediation rate, and conducted over 924 training sessions, improving safety for an estimated one million workers.

Pramit Chanda, global director for textile and manufacturing at IDH, and spokesperson for LABS, said: "This achievement has been a result of collaborative efforts and commitment of all stakeholders involved.

"It reflects the industry's strong intention to embed a safety culture. LABS remains steadfast in its mission to create safer working conditions, and we are proud to witness the positive transformation of the sector."

LABS' approach encompasses robust training programmes, safety assessments and the implementation of best practices to ensure a sustainable safety culture. It also offers technical assistance to enhance stakeholders' knowledge and skills in life and building safety.

Courtesy: Ecotextile.com