H&M wants to contribute to lasting improvements for people working in the clothing industry in Bangladesh. Now efforts are being stepped up, with the goal of supporting social development in the long term.
Bangladesh is an important buying market for H&M but is also one of the world’s poorest nations. Clothing manufacturing employs several million people and accounts for a large portion of Bangladeshi exports, so the development of the industry is vital to the country’s future.
As a long-term buyer, H&M wants to help strengthen workers’ influence over their own situation and increase their skill levels while creating stability in the labour market. H&M is making this happen by expanding its efforts to improve sustainability.
The wage issue in the clothing manufacturing industry is a complex structural challenge and requires the co-operation of a number of different stakeholders. H&M and other major apparel retailers have previously encouraged the Bangladeshi government to improve minimum wages for the country’s textile workers, and in 2010 an increase was granted; nevertheless, lasting improvements in working conditions necessitate a continuous, well-functioning dialogue.
In summer 2011 H&M arranged a conference in Dhaka at which suppliers, labour organisations, government representatives, international trade unions and volunteer groups met to discuss ways to improve communication between workers and employers. As a next step, H&M has arranged for external experts to train five selected suppliers in the creation of workers’ committees via democratic elections, and in how these committees negotiate with management, in order to enable workers to improve their working conditions. The system will undergo testing in 2012 and 2013, and is planned to be rolled out to additional suppliers thereafter.
Safety in the workplace is another important issue, and H&M is cooperating with 18 other companies to improve fire prevention measures in factories. For a number of years H&M has routinely used films to educate more than 570,000 workers regarding their rights. Now this education technique is being used to train suppliers and their workers in good fire prevention and safety. In cooperation with fire prevention authorities in Bangladesh, H&M has developed two training films. The industry organisations aim to show the films in all of their members’ factories within two years.
A skilled workforce is the key to sustainable development in the garment industry. Several years ago H&M began operating a vocational training school in Dhaka, and so far 1,154 people have been trained here. The centre also offers instructor training programmes for other companies and organisations looking to develop similar activities, and so far 90 people have participated in this training. Now, together with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the government’s Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, H&M is launching a five-year project aimed at increasing and strengthening the capacity of five vocational training schools. The project aims to provide students with improved technical skills and relevant knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, which in turn will give them greater opportunities to exert a positive influence over their future and that of the industry in general.
H&M also wants to promote access to higher education and is offering financial support to Bangladeshi students in co-operation with the Grameen Foundation. In 2011, a total of 20 students received financial support; half of these students are completing textiles courses, while the others are studying subjects such as law, political science, finance and agriculture. H&M’s ambition is to provide grants for 20 new students per year for five years, but since the initial capital is expected to remain intact and only the interest will be used, H&M hopes that the support programme will be able to continue in the longer term, for the benefit of future students.
H&M wants to support women in Bangladesh who are exposed to violence and discrimination. The majority of the people working in the garment industry are women and in order to support them H&M, together with suppliers and TeleConsult Group, are starting a helpline. The helpline will be open to the public and staffed by women from the Acid Survivors Foundation. H&M will finance, evaluate and improve the helpline for two years.
Karl-Johan Persson, CEO gives his opinion on H&M's sustain-ability program. Click here
Watch videos about our sustainability work. Click here
A few case studies on some of the work we do. Click here
H&M has defined seven ambitious commitments on sustainability which we work hard every day to achieve.
1 - Provide fashion for conscious customers
2 - Choose and reward responsible partners
Find out about our sustainability performance in the latest Concious Actions Sustainability Report 2012.
Little time? Take a quick glance through the highlights from 2012.
