All publications:

Industrial relations in the ready-made garment sector in Jordan

The report aims to shed light on the status of industrial relations in Jordan’s garment manufacturing sector. It also seeks to inform forward-looking efforts led by ILO constituents and other stakeholders towards the continued establishment of a...

ILO Brief

Setting adequate wages: The question of living wages

This brief provides an ILO perspective on the question of living wages and describes how the ILO promotes the setting of adequate wages that consider both the needs of workers and their families, and economic factors. In going forward, the ILO...

Working conditions in BWJ participating non-garment factories

The future of work and skills in the textiles and clothing sector

Anticipating skills needs and finding solutions through social dialogue in Brazil, Ethiopia, Jordan and Peru

Trade union organizing in Bangladesh's ready-made garment sector amidst COVID pandemic: status, challenges, and scope.

The specific objectives of the study are drawn from interpreting trade union organizing, fundamentally, workers have the right to form and join organizations of their own choosing, i.e. organize as trade unions. Such organizing for the formation of...

Productivity improvements

Productivity and decent work: A workers' manual

This manual aims to guide worker-oriented training in the Asian garment sector on how productivity improvements can support decent work through enhanced social dialogue, compliance with labour standards and improved working conditions.

Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia

Women entrepreneurs leading the way: Promoting a circular economy and more sustainable practices in the garment sector

The report outlines four women leaders in Asia’s garment and textile sector who are making positive contributions to sector-specific challenges related to gender equality, environmental sustainability and industry recovery from COVID-19. The...

Sexual, Reproductive and Mental Health Training of Trainers in the Garment Sector: Training Manual

Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia

Employment, wages and productivity in the Asian garment sector: Taking stock of recent trends

The report takes stock of employment, wages and productivity in the Asian garment sector by exploring data and policy insights to highlight trends, patterns and ways forward for a better future of work. By utilising updated data insights, the report...

ILO Code of practice

Safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear

Background paper

Global value chain analysis of the automotive and garment sectors: A study of Germany, Spain, Romania, Indonesia and Mexico for 2000-2014

Since the end of the last century, there has been an increasing trend of production fragmentation. Although all manufacturing sectors have become globalised to some degree, the case of automotive and garment sectors stand out. This report analyses...

ILO Working paper 54

Opportunities for a Just Transition to environmental sustainability and COVID-19 recovery in the textile and garment sector in Asia

A report examining opportunities for a just transition in Asia’s textile and garment sector as it recovers from COVID-19. It explores the pandemic’s impacts on employment and enterprises alongside the sector’s social, economic and environmental...

ILO Working paper 51

Assessing the impact - Environmental impact assessment in the textile and garment sector in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and Viet Nam

An environmental impact assessment of the textile and garment sector, examining the environmental effects associated with production activities and identifying opportunities to improve sustainability. It provides insights and recommendations to...

ILO Working paper 52

Greening the sector - Environmental initiatives and tools in the garment sector in Asia

This paper reviews environmental initiatives, tools and assessment platforms aimed at improving sustainability in Asia’s garment sector. It examines their scope, approaches and beneficiaries, identifies gaps in existing initiatives, and highlights...

ILO Working paper 53

Taking climate action - Measuring carbon emissions in the garment sector in Asia

This paper examines carbon emissions across the garment sector as counted using the two prominent methodologies for calculating emissions – the life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon accounting in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The purpose...

Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia

Promising practices, experiences and lessons learned in eliminating gender inequality in the garment sector in Asia

The report highlights policies, programmes and initiatives that have been successful in closing critical gender gaps in the garment industry.

Project highlights - Bangladesh

Knowledge intensive business services gaps in environmental management in the textile and garment sector

The Decent Work in the Garment Supply Chains in Asia (DWGSCA) project funded by the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA) aims to support decent work and sustainability in the garment sector.

Supply chains

Knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) gaps in environmental management in the textile and garment sector: Project highlights: Viet...

The Decent Work in the Garment Supply Chains in Asia (DWGSCA) project funded by the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA) aims to support decent work and sustainability in the garment sector.

The state of the apparel and footwear industry: Employment, automation and their gender dimensions

This paper highlights the importance of the apparel and footwear sector for women’s employment and the gendered nature of the industry; summarizes the literature on the effects of industrial automation and digitization on employment in the industry,...

COVID-19 and occupational safety and health in the garment/textiles global supply chain in Ethiopia

This research examined the measures and actions taken by stakeholders in the garment/textile global supply chain in Ethiopia to prevent exposure to and transmission of COVID-19 in workplaces linked to this supply chain. Findings reveal entry points...