Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Programme Ghana
ILO Ghana and ILO Ethiopia exchange knowledge on boosting productivity growth and promoting decent work
The ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Programme Ghana visited ILO Ethiopia to explore effective interventions and practices of the ILO SIRAYE Programme to improve and modernize Ghana’s textile and garment industry.
15 June 2023
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (ILO News) – From 5 to 7 June 2023, the ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Programme Ghana organized a field visit to Addis Ababa to learn from the experience of the ILO Programme on Advancing Decent Work and Inclusive Industrialization in Ethiopia (SIRAYE) and explore successful interventions to improve productivity and working conditions in Ghana’s textile and garment sector. The purpose of the visit was to understand the One ILO Programme and South-South Cooperation, while also acquiring insights from ILO SIRAYE's expertise in extending policy, sector, and micro-level assistance to government agencies, policymakers and organizations engaged in the textile and garment sector.
The four-member delegation from ILO Ghana visited the Ethiopia Investment Commission, The Ministry of Industry, Ethiopian Textiles and Garment Manufacturers’ Association, The Kaizen Excellence Centre, The Embassy of Ghana in Ethiopia, and the Industrial Federation of Textile, Leather and Garment Workers’ Trade Unions. The delegates also got an opportunity to take a tour of three apparel manufacturers, namely Indo Apparel, Silver Spark Apparel Ethiopia PLC., and Omega Garments.
ILO SIRAYE’s work at national, regional and factory levels involving different ILO departments and global programmes highlighted potential opportunities of collaboration between ILO Better Work and the ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programmes to promote compliance with national and international standards. The project will also seek a stronger partnership with the Ghana Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) to strengthen research and data collection on productivity growth and decent work.
The visit emphasized the need for technical assistance and training (including SCORE Training) for members of the Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM) and managers of sectoral organizations, in addition to supporting the development of their organizational strategy. At the SME-level, adapting training material to the needs of Ghanaian businesses, and promoting quality improvement, lean manufacturing, safety and health at work, gender equality, human resource management and social dialogue remains critical.
The ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Programme Ghana adopts an ecosystems approach to addresses constraints to productivity growth and decent work at national, sector and enterprise levels. Funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the programme is being implemented from 2021-2025. More information here.
The four-member delegation from ILO Ghana visited the Ethiopia Investment Commission, The Ministry of Industry, Ethiopian Textiles and Garment Manufacturers’ Association, The Kaizen Excellence Centre, The Embassy of Ghana in Ethiopia, and the Industrial Federation of Textile, Leather and Garment Workers’ Trade Unions. The delegates also got an opportunity to take a tour of three apparel manufacturers, namely Indo Apparel, Silver Spark Apparel Ethiopia PLC., and Omega Garments.
ILO SIRAYE’s work at national, regional and factory levels involving different ILO departments and global programmes highlighted potential opportunities of collaboration between ILO Better Work and the ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programmes to promote compliance with national and international standards. The project will also seek a stronger partnership with the Ghana Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) to strengthen research and data collection on productivity growth and decent work.
The visit emphasized the need for technical assistance and training (including SCORE Training) for members of the Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM) and managers of sectoral organizations, in addition to supporting the development of their organizational strategy. At the SME-level, adapting training material to the needs of Ghanaian businesses, and promoting quality improvement, lean manufacturing, safety and health at work, gender equality, human resource management and social dialogue remains critical.
The ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Programme Ghana adopts an ecosystems approach to addresses constraints to productivity growth and decent work at national, sector and enterprise levels. Funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the programme is being implemented from 2021-2025. More information here.