Decent Work in the Supply Chains of the Garment Sector in Regional Asia

The final narrative report as well as the final evaluation provide information on results achieved. Overall, the ILO report is more positive than the independent evaluation. Results reported by the ILO are mainly in form of outputs and what has been done, and less on what the activities have led to. The following are examples of results achieved per project outcome as per the ILO reporting; Outcome 1: The outcome was discontinued end of 2021 but some deliverables have been produced, such as research related to wage productivity, research on implications of technological innovations on employment and industrial relations and the publishing of an article providing guidance on factory grievance mechanisms. In addition, social dialogue was integrated across other outcomes. Outcome 2: The report "Moving the Needle - Gender equality and decent work in the garment sector" was published and disseminated together with a Regional Road map. Practices on gender equality from the industry were shared. A Women's Leadership Programme was carried out with 15 online sessions and 8 persons fully completed the programme. Out of these, 3 are implementing their action plans and participants continue to network. The Regional Gender Task force that was established, comprising industry partners and experts, has met quarterly and arranged two technical sessions. Outcome 3: A Factory Improvement Tool set (FIT) was developed comprising 74 modules, pilot tested in 27 factories and thereafter deployed in 55. It has resulted in improved productivity and working conditions as well as improved communication, teamwork and collaboration. Outcome 4: Reports, policy briefs and research focusing environmental sustainability have been concluded, for example "Effective Regulations", "The role of knowledge intensive business services in enhancing environmental management in the textile and garment sector." and "Building back better. Achieving Environmental Sustainability and Gender Equality in Covid-19 recovery." A Just Transition Toolkit focusing the garment sector was completed and the research network held 11 meetings. Outcome 5: The main partnerships have been with Better Work and GIZ. The Asia Garment Hub, a knowledge sharing web platform, was established in cooperation with GIZ who will continue to finance it, at least until 2024. The Hub has more than 180 members, more than 37 000 visitors up to end of 2022 and a library containing more than 700 resources. The evaluation concludes that the project has been effective and adaptive in achieving many of its intended objectives and results and that all outcomes except nr 1 have at least partly achieved what was expected. It concludes that; Outcome 2 might have increased gender equality in the garment sector a little as awareness among involved stakeholders increased and reports produced were disseminated. Evidence-based policy advocacy suffered from the lack of involvement of governments and gender mainstreaming was less successful among the other outcomes. Outcome 3 has led to that workers and managers in the factories involved have acquired better knowledge and capacity to enhance productivity, competitiveness and working conditions. However, it has been more difficult to motivate the employers' and workers' organizations to actively spread the FIT message. Outcome 4 has focused on relevant, but at times academic, knowledge but activities were more focused on knowledge production than on the application of knowledge. Outcome 5 the systematic regional knowledge sharing was achieved through the Asia Garment Hub jointly developed with GIZ. Mainstreaming gender and environmental sustainability remains work in progress, even though certain activities have been undertaken.

The development objective for the regional "Decent Work in the Garment Sector Supply Chains in Asia"-project, 2019-2021, is aiming to contribute to improved working conditions and rights of women and men workers as well as improved productivity and environmental sustainability of the garment sector in Asia.  To reach the objective, the project will address four outcomes; Outcome 1: ILO constituents and other stakeholders and the regional network use platform and available research and tailored tools for inclusive policy development, workplace cooperation, social dialogue and collective bargaining. Outcome 2: Increased availability of and advocacy for evidence-based policy recommendations for gender equality in the garment sector. Outcome 3: Employer and Business Membership Organizations (EBMOS) and key actors have improved knowledge and capacity, applied to support productivity and competitiveness in the garment sector. Outcome 4: Improved environmental sustainability capacity of key actors in the garment sector in Asia.