Femnet e.V.

Gender-Responsive Health Protection - Press Releases

18 January 2023 Focus on gender-responsive health: One year multi-stakeholder initiative in the apparel and footwear sector

Joint press release by FEMNET and SÜDWIND

Occupational safety and health is more than just the maintenance of machinery. This is one of the first messages highlighted by the project team of the Multi-Actor Initiative on Gender Equality in Occupational Health and Safety.

Bonn, 18.01.2023. “Almost everyone agrees that gender equality is extremely important for effective occupational health and safety, especially in the value chains of footwear and clothing,” says SÜDWIND employee Dr Jiska Gojowczyk, who is in dialogue with many stakeholders on the topic. "But no one really knows how to do it, and that's where we start."

In the first year, the organizations SÜDWIND-Institut and FEMNET e.V. had discussions with numerous actors: with companies in the clothing and footwear industry, with large retailers and standard setters, with trade unions and other civil society and professional organisations. One relevant finding is that occupational health and safety does not take sufficient account of the fact that risks to different genders may differ.

The topic is highly topical: Since the beginning of the year, many companies have been legally obliged to exercise human rights due diligence in their own supply chains. Last year, the International Labour Organization (ILO) declared occupational health and safety a fundamental human right at work. At the same time, working conditions in the textile and footwear industries are often still harmful to health. Discrimination and violence against women and LGBTQIA+ are well documented. In addition, women are generally paid less globally and bear the double burden of housework and childcare, creating great mental and financial pressure. The COVID-19 pandemic and a volatile consumer goods economy have further exacerbated the situation in many production sites.

“The psychological burden on workers is high, but hardly occurs in companies’ efforts to ensure good health protection in the value chains,” explains Lisa Carl of FEMNET. Gojowczyk adds: “We are therefore working hard together with various stakeholders to improve occupational health and safety. We have received a lot of support so far, but we are also looking forward to other companies wanting to participate in our initiative.”

The project is organized by the organizations Cividep in India, Trade Union Rights Center (TURC) in Indonesia and FEMNET e.V. and SÜDWIND-Institut from Germany. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The focus is on clothing production in India and shoe manufacturing in Indonesia, as well as opportunities for action in Germany. In the coming weeks, concrete research results on occupational health and safety in India and Indonesia will be published. The recently published SÜDWIND discussion paper “What is a gender transformative OSH approach?“ (PDF file) can be used as an introduction to the topic in CSR departments of companies.

SÜDWIND is committed to economic, social and environmental justice – worldwide. We research, uncover unjust structures, make them public and offer alternative courses of action. We combine development education, public relations and lobbying work and carry demands in campaigns, society, companies and politics. For more than 30 years.

FEMNET is a non-profit women's rights organization based in Bonn. Founded in 2007, the association promotes better working conditions in the clothing industry of the global South through campaigns, educational and consulting work, and project work with local partners.