Programme addresses workplace equality for women with VF support
Apparel group VF Corporation has invested in a project to help women garment workers in Guatemala achieve greater workplace equality and career advancement.
VF said women in the Central American country’s garment sector often face limited access to higher-paying job opportunities. They also risk sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
The project found that 72% of women in the sector had suffered or witnessed violence in the workplace.
Investment from VF corporation funded the roll-out for the first time in Guatemala of a workplace programme that focuses on the prevention and remediation of gender-based violence and harassment.
A pilot programme reached four garment factories and around 3,000 workers.
The programme, RISE (Reimagining Industry to Support Equality), seeks to foster dialogue between workers and managers, strengthens grievance mechanisms and runs awareness campaigns to connect workers with support services in their communities.
