Countries
Country Activities
Country programmes typically combine independent enterprise assessments with enterprise advisory and training services to support practical improvements through workplace cooperation. Using STAR, Better Work’s information management system, enterprises can share assessment information with their buyers. This in turn allows buyers to reduce their own auditing and redirect resources to fixing problems, focusing on sustainable solutions.
The skills and reputation of Better Work trainers and enterprise advisors are critical to the success of the programme. At both the global and national levels, Better Work is establishing training programmes for trainers and enterprise advisors, a support network, an interactive web-based community of practice to support practitioners and a professional development programme for these target groups.
ILO and IFC work together to mobilize necessary resources for country projects. In addition, Better Work country programmes are organized to work closely with existing IFC and ILO initiatives, particularly those focusing on capacity building in the private sector, public-sector labour administration and employers’ and workers’ organizations.
The global programme is responsible for quality assurance, and remains engaged in this role once country programmes become independent.
Approach
When Better Work designs a country programme, a key component is support from the relevant employers’ and workers’ organizations, the national government and international buyers. IFC and ILO require this support in order to ensure the success and sustainability of the project. Better Work country programme enterprise-level activities combine:
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independent enterprise assessments examining compliance with international labour standards and national labour law,
- enterprise advisory and training services to support practical improvements through workplace cooperation, and
- stakeholder engagement and sustainability through shared solutions supported by government, employers, unions and workers, and international buyers.
Using STAR, Better Work’s participating enterprises can share assessment reports, as well as status updates and remediation plans, with their buyers. The programme also publicly reports on compliance within the industry. Following a baseline report, Better Work will detail progress individual enterprises are making in improving their performance on labour standards.
Each country programme is designed to build sustainable independent organizations that will continue to provide services beyond the initial funding period.
Improved compliance with labour standards will improve workers’ livelihoods, promote decent work and unlock business opportunities to facilitate job creation, while strengthening the country’s industry competitiveness in the global supply chain.
Better Work builds on the experience gained by the Better Factories Cambodia project in raising labour standards and competitiveness. For more information about this groundbreaking programme, please visit http://betterfactories.org/.