Better Work

Woodruff, C., Rabbani, A., Khan, M. and Chowdhury, A. (2025) Creating Better Jobs for Women and Boosting Productivity in Bangladesh’s Garment Factories: An Assessment of the Gender Equality and Returns Program. International Finance Corporation and International Labour Organization. doi:10.54394/SQXN3146.

In Bangladesh, the garment industry is both a top exporter and a significant employer of women. In 2024, it generated $38.48 billion in export earnings and accounted for more than 80 percent of total exports. Over the past decades, the industry has made considerable gains in women’s labor force participation, and women now comprise a majority of the sector’s 4.2 million-strong workforce. However, women’s representation in management roles remains stubbornly low. To close this gap, IFC developed the Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR) Program under Better Work, which is a collaboration between IFC and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Conducted in partnership with factories, management, global apparel brands, and garment workers, the GEAR Program aimed to increase gender equality, improve working conditions, and enhance productivity in the Bangladeshi garment sector. From 2019 to 2022, GEAR was implemented in 50 garment factories that supply five global apparel brands―H&M, Levi Strauss & Co., Marks & Spencer, Ralph Lauren, and VF Corporation. These brands have made public commitments to increase the share of women in leadership roles in their supply chains.