H&M and ILO signs unique agreement on sustainable global supply chains
The new partnership will address industrial relations, wages, capacity building for social partners and skills development.
The cooperation between H&M and the ILO dates back to 2001, when H&M joined the ILO Better Factories programme in Cambodia. The new strategic partnership will promote a wide range of activities with the aim to further strengthen the sustainability work in H&M’s supply chain. The activities will be both at the global, national and enterprise level in a large number of countries. The partnership is also intended to establish a positive model for other operators and create a global alliance to promote the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda.
“Issues in the garment industry are systemic and require action that helps develop effective industrial relations and promote respect of international labour standards. There is therefore an urgent need to establish strategic and comprehensive collaborations with companies that have experience in these fields, such as H&M,” says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.
The ILO has a tripartite structure with governments, employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations from 185 countries as members
“We see the cooperation as a great opportunity to further strengthen our work towards the establishment of well-functioning industrial relations on all our strategic production markets. ILO, with its unique tripartite composition, is the perfect partner for addressing issues such as wages and training and skills development in the textile industry,” says Karl-Johan Persson, CEO at H&M.