IFC and ILO team up to support Jordanian clothing exports through improved labour standards
1 February 2008 - Press Release
AMMAN, Jordan – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, today launched the Better Work Jordan project designed to improve working conditions for more than 54,000 workers in the Jordanian apparel industry and boost the international competitiveness of the sector.
The US$4.7 million project in Jordan is financed by US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Jordanian Ministry of Labour, and some of the largest international buyers of apparel produced in Jordan.
Better Work Jordan is the first of a number of country level projects to be launched by the global Better Work Programme of the ILO and IFC. The Better Work Programme combines ILO expertise in labour standards with that of IFC in private sector development and brings together local enterprises, international buyers, governments and workers’ organizations to improve labour standards and competitiveness in global supply chains. The global Better Work Programme develops global tools and country projects.
Bassem Khalil Al-Salem, the Jordanian Minister of Labour, welcomed the Better Work Jordan programme, saying: “The Government of Jordan is proud to be supporting the Better Work initiative. The value and strength of Better Work is found in establishing a partnership based on the principle that decent working conditions and the production of quality products at competitive prices go hand-in-hand”.
In 2007, the Better Work global team held a series of consultative meetings in Amman to design the Better Work Jordan country project. Nada Al Nashif, ILO Regional Director for Arab States, said: “Stakeholders are working together to find solutions for challenges to Jordan’s export apparel industry through the Better Work Jordan project. We are confident that we will see significant and sustainable improvements in labour standards as well as a positive impact on the economic performance of the industry.”
A recent IFC survey shows that international apparel buyers rate labour standards as one of the most important of nine business environment factors in selecting a supplier country or factory.
Mike Essex, IFC Director for the Middle East - North Africa region said “we are excited about the Better Work programme in Jordan. The IFC’s experience shows that there is a clear and strong business case for companies to effectively manage their environmental and social risks. The Better Work project in Jordan is an opportunity to demonstrate that responsible labour practices have the potential to open export markets.”
Better Work Jordan combines independent enterprise assessments with enterprise advisory and training services to support practical improvements through workplace cooperation. It is a voluntary industry-based scheme designed to work at the enterprise level. The three main components are independent enterprise, training and capacity building and stakeholder engagement and sustainability.
Better Work Jordan will initially be managed by the ILO while a new Jordanian entity is built to take over the operations within five years. It will continue to be supported by the global Better Work Programme. Better Work Jordan will be part of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) agreed between the ILO and the Government of Jordan which covers activities in a wide range of labour-related issues. It responds to the challenges identified in the National Agenda and the plan of action of the Ministry of Labour to ensure full compliance of international labour standards in the apparel sector. Better Work Jordan will also collaborate with the Licensing and Inspection Reform advisory to the Jordanian Ministry of Labour currently provided by PEP MENA, IFC’s regional Advisory Facility
For more information, visit www.betterwork.org, or contact:
| In Amman: | In Washington, D.C.: | In Geneva: |
|---|---|---|
| IFC PEP MENA Wafa’ M. Aranki Phone: +962-6-5678050 ext. 263 Email: Waranki@ifc.org |
International Finance Corporation Lucie Giraud Phone: +1 202 458 4662 Email: lgiraud@ifc.org |
ILO Department of Communication Phone: +41 22 799 7912 Email: communication@ilo.org |
About the ILO
The International Labour Organization (ILO) was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles and became the first specialized agency of the United Nations system in 1946. Its work in setting and monitoring international labour standards has provided the framework for national labour law and practice in virtually all countries. The ILO's total budget for 2006-2007 is just over US$900 million, including a regular budget of US$594 million plus US$306 million in extra-budgetary funds associated with special technical cooperation projects. For more information, visit www.ilo.org
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. IFC’s vision is that poor people have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized an additional US$3.9 billion through syndications and structured finance for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory services in 97 countries. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
