AMSTERDAM/YAMAGUCHI – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Fast Retailing Co. have both taken steps towards fairer workplace conditions, with ILO adopting a new convention on violence and harassment and Fast Retailing entering a global partnership with UN Women to champion women's rights and empowerment in the apparel industry.
The ILO’s new convention establishes that domestic violence has an impact on the workplace and that employers should recognise the effects and mitigate its impact. It also gives workers in the informal sector – such as domestic workers – the right to protection.
Fast Retailing – parent company of apparel retailer Uniqlo – and UN Women’s new relationship will work to promote safe and secure work environments, and advance empowerment for all females. It will see an investment from Fast Retailing of US$1.6 million over two years to 2021.