From factory floor to frontline: shielding garment workers in the covid-19 era

The COVID-19 pandemic called for unprecedented measures to make workplaces safe for workers. This was critical not only for the workers’ physical and mental health but also to keep the critical supply chains functional. Between October 2020 to June 2022, the International Labour Organization (ILO), implemented a number of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and income support initiatives to support garment sector workers and employers in seven countries across Asia and Africa through a Germany supported project. It included large scale awareness campaigns; trainings; PPE distribution to vulnerable workers and service providers; and technical support for workplace level risk assessment and mitigation measures with the objective of creating safe working environment for workers and employers and supporting business continuity.