Future Activities

As part of a three-year strategy through 2012, Better Work will focus 80% of its effort scaling up its engagement in the apparel industry, and 20% of its effort diversifying to new industries and extending access to Better Work tools.

In addition to current operations in Cambodia, Haiti, Jordan, Lesotho and Vietnam, programme design is underway in Nicaragua and Indonesia. Programmes in the apparel sector are also being considered for additional countries.

In conjunction with its donor partners, Better Work will evaluate options for diversifying into new sectors such as tourism, electronics, fishing and seafood processing, and agribusiness. This will include research, initial scoping and consultation with global stakeholders such as sectoral unions, employers and international buyers.

In considering new countries and industries, Better Work evaluates both needs-based and operational criteria. Some of the key indicators include weak compliance with labour standards; industries that employ a larger number of workers, especially women and/or other disadvantaged groups; sufficient capacity and commitment from national stakeholders to engage in the project; and the potential for a market driver that is related to labour standard compliance.