Our Insights

Women focuses on promoting dignified work in the garment sector because we see first-hand the challenges faced by women working in the industry.

Many women working in the garment industry live in poverty, surviving on low wages and making significantly less than their male counterparts. Precarious employment and lack of protections under the law make them particularly vulnerable to labor abuses. Sexual harassment is commonplace yet women often feel they do not have the ability to speak out against this.

Our long-term engagement with the garment industry, with a strengthened focus on promoting women’s empowerment in recent years, has allowed us to develop proven, practical solutions to help ensure women working in the sector are safe, respected and valued at work.

Industry insight

Dignified Work: Crucial for Women’s Empowerment
Learn more about Dignified Work on CARE Insights, CARE’s information hub with in-depth research and commentary on key issues affecting women.

‘I know I cannot quit.’ The Prevalence and Productivity Cost of Sexual Harassment to the Cambodian Garment Industry (March 2017)
CARE’s research estimates sexual harassment has a cost to the industry in Cambodia of as much as USD 89 million per annum.
Read the report summary

What works? Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: A Rapid Review of Evidence (November 2018)
CARE completed a review of promising practices to drive an evidence-based approach to reducing sexual harassment in the garment industry.
Read the report summary

Sexual Harassment and Garment Manufacturing in the Mekong: Legal Frameworks (November 2018)
CARE’s report outlines the legislative or regulatory frameworks on or related to sexual harassment in the workplace, both at national and international levels, with particular focus on Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

This Is Not Working: Stopping Sexual Harassment in Workplaces Across our Region (April 2018)
This Is Not Working: A Global Opportunity for Change (March 2019)
CARE Australia’s reports on violence and harassment in the world of work outline the key arguments for the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention.

Fashion Transparency Index 2019
Fashion Transparency Index 2018
CARE contributes to Fashion Revolution’s annual transparency index, which assesses factors ranging from traceability to spotlight issues such as gender equality.

Effective solutions

Made by Women Impact Report 2019
Made by Women Impact Report 2018
Made by Women Impact Report 2017
Each year Made by Women publishes a report on the impact of CARE’s efforts to promote dignified work for women in the garment industry. Read the latest report to learn more about our achievements to date, programs which are leading to positive change, and how our partnerships are increasing our impact.

Women working together for change
Analysis of CARE's engagement with garment workers in Bangladesh showed supporting women to build solidarity and take collective action led to positive changes across many areas of their lives.
Learn more about CARE Bangladesh’s EKATA model for supporting women to take action

Addressing sexual harassment: CARE’s solution for the garment industry
CARE’s ongoing engagement with factories in South-East Asia has led to development of a high-quality package of tools for improving organizational compliance on sexual harassment.
Learn more about CARE’s STOP program for addressing sexual harassment in factories.

See the reality

What is the reality for women in factories in Asia? Check out our video interviews featuring women, managers and others linked to the garment industry in Asia.