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Empowering women workers in garment factories

Fiedowshi works in the inspection section at the DBL factory

The Cotton On Group is supporting CARE’s goal of economically empowering 8 million women in the garment industry in Asia.

90 per cent of the 4 million workers in the Bangladeshi garment industry are women.

Together, CARE and the Cotton On Group aim to encourage more women to move into factory leadership roles and have an equal say in the decisions that affect them – at work, at home and in their communities.

The Empowering Women Workers in Bangladesh project aims to increase the number of women garment workers in leadership roles in the participating factories, in addition to tackling the barriers that women face to achieve equality in the workplace, and supporting women to take control of their own lives. It works with management to ensure female workers have a voice in workplace committees and are supported to progress into leadership roles.

The partnership between CARE and the Cotton On Group builds on CARE’s proven approach within the garment industry, and will contribute to CARE’s global goal to improve the working lives of 8 million women in Asia by 2021.

Creating a shared value partnership

This partnership brings CARE’s decades of experience in women’s empowerment in Asia to the Cotton On Group’s suppliers, demonstrating a shared commitment to equality for women through awareness and education initiatives.  By pooling our expertise, reach and influence, CARE and the Group can work together to improve the lives and rights of women in supply chains.

Julekha works in the folding section at a garment factory, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

The Cotton On Group is Australia’s largest global retailer, with seven brands operating 1,500 stores in 18 countries, and employing 22,000 team members worldwide.

Together, the Cotton On Group and CARE are providing bespoke training modules to 2,200 garment factory workers, predominately women, across three of the Group’s supplier factories in Bangladesh.

“The Group is incredibly excited about the partnership with CARE Australia to deliver this training that is in line with our people first approach and to continually improve our supply chain. The Group has been working collaboratively with CARE Australia for over two years to ensure we deliver a program that is aligned to our purpose to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”

Alice Polglase, General Manager, Risk & Sustainability at the Cotton On Group

“Australian businesses have an important role to play in improving the lives and rights of women in their overseas supply chains. It’s wonderful that the Cotton On Group shares our vision and is increasing its investment in this work. We are excited to partner with it and bring CARE’s longstanding expertise in women’s empowerment in Asia to the factories that supply iconic Australian brands like Cotton On.”

Sally Moyle, CEO, CARE Australia

Photo credits: Abir Abdullah/CARE.

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CARE Australia acknowledges the First Nations of the land on which we work, including the Ngunnawal and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung of the Eastern Kulin Nation. We respect and celebrate the sovereignty of the Traditional Owners of these lands and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

CARE Australia is a leading international aid organisation that works around the globe to save lives and defeat poverty.

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