Ariel photo of textile workers in a factory in Madagascar.

Textiles, clothing, leather and footwear sector

Textile workers in a free zone in Antananarivo. © ILO

The sector is characterized by geographically dispersed production and dynamic market-driven transformations. It contributes significantly to economic and social development and provides employment opportunities to millions of workers worldwide, especially young women. 

The future of work in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear is increasingly uncertain.  The tragedy of the Rana Plaza collapse brought worldwide attention to the urgent need to improve workplace safety and working conditions in line with the ILO Code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear. A just transition is key to advancing sustainability, circularity and decent work in the sector.

Image
Icon of textiles sector
Code of practice

Code of practice

The purpose of this code is to provide practical guidance for the use of all those, both in the public and private sectors, who have obligations, responsibilities, duties and rights regarding safety and health in the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industries.

Programmes and projects

The Better Work Programme
Better Work programme logo

Joint ILO IFC programme

The Better Work Programme

Vision Zero Fund
Vision Zero Fund (Black logo)

Safety and Health for All

Vision Zero Fund

Supply chains for a sustainable future of work
Placeholder image

Supply chains for a sustainable future of work

Implementation of a pilot Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh
Launch banner of the Bangladesh employment injury scheme

Social security

Implementation of a pilot Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh

Sustainable supply chains to build forward better
Sustainable supply chains to build forward better - Logo

Sustainable supply chains to build forward better

Advancing Decent Work and inclusive industrialization in Ethiopia
Woman entrepreneur with a  a hearing impairment at work, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Advancing Decent Work and inclusive industrialization in Ethiopia

Meetings and events

Towards a More Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Garment and Textiles Sector in Asia and the Pacific

Virtual, 18-20 October 2021

Towards a More Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Garment and Textiles Sector in Asia and the Pacific

Meeting of Experts to discuss and adopt a code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear

Geneva, 4-8 October 2021

Meeting of Experts to discuss and adopt a code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear

Global Dialogue Forum on Wages and Working Hours in the Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industries

Geneva, 23-25 September 2014

Global Dialogue Forum on Wages and Working Hours in the Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industries

Events

Promoting digital wage payments in the Cambodian garment sector

Webinar

Promoting digital wage payments in the Cambodian garment sector

Due diligence and the right to safe and healthy work. Are we serious?

OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector

Due diligence and the right to safe and healthy work. Are we serious?

Promoting responsible business conduct through improved safety and health measures

OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector

Promoting responsible business conduct through improved safety and health measures

News

Commuting safety matters: Collective action for a safe commute
Placeholder image

New course developed by ILO Vision Zero Fund initiative

Commuting safety matters: Collective action for a safe commute

Bangladesh garment sector injury scheme to include commuting accidents
A local bus ferrying people in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the rains

Social security

Bangladesh garment sector injury scheme to include commuting accidents

Enhancing labour inspection in Kenya through tailored labour inspection tool kits
Placeholder image

Labour inspection tool kit in Kenya

Enhancing labour inspection in Kenya through tailored labour inspection tool kits

All publications

Action manual and checklist for employers and workers in the garment and footwear sector to enhance workers’ commuting safety

Collective action for a safe commute

Action manual and checklist for employers and workers in the garment and footwear sector to enhance workers’ commuting safety

SCORE Training catalogue

SCORE Training catalogue

Challenges and opportunities to advance decent work in five countries and supply chains: A synthesis report

Challenges and opportunities to advance decent work in five countries and supply chains: A synthesis report

Training programmes

Training of the Code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear

Training of the Code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear

The Better Work Academy

The Better Work Academy

ILO | Training Programmes / Factory Improvement Toolset (FIT)

ILO | Training Programmes / Factory Improvement Toolset (FIT)

Collective action for a safe commute

Collective action for a safe commute