IDH Safety Program Reaches One Million Garment Workers

IDH’s worker safety program for the garment industry, the Life and Building Safety (LABS) Initiative, has achieved a key milestone in improving safety of one million workers in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

“This Initiative was introduced four years ago and has played a crucial role in enhancing workplace safety and promoting responsible industry practices in key apparel-producing countries,” a IDH press release said.

The LABS Initiative is a collaborative, industry-driven program that aims to elevate life and building safety standards in the apparel, footwear, accessories and home-textile industries.

It focuses on creating safer working conditions for factory workers while also mitigating preventable safety risks such as fires, electrical hazards, and structural issues.

“We are committed to creating a lasting positive impact on workers’ lives and fostering a culture of safety within industries,” Pramit Chanda, the Global Director for Textiles & Manufacturing at IDH said.

While celebrating this achievement, IDH looks forward to expanding the reach of the LABS initiative to make an even greater impact in the future.

LABS is a comprehensive effort involving various stakeholders, including brands including Gap Inc., Target, VF Corporation, and Walmart, along with government agencies and non-profit organisations.

The program assesses factories, monitors safety risks, and provides frameworks for mitigation and remediation.

Since its launch in 2019, LABS has made significant progress in conducting over 465 assessments in factories and achieving a 77 percent remediation rate.

LABS also offers capacity-building support through training programs and technical assistance to enhance stakeholders’ knowledge and skills in life and building safety.

So far, the LABS Initiative has conducted over 849 safety training sessions.