Leaders in textile industry pledge to improve workers welfare

Workers in the textile and apparel industry in Kenya have received renewed hope after leaders in the industry pledged to improve their welfare.

IDH Kenya-Sustainable Trade Initiative, convened a meeting in Mombasa to propose and implement ways of promoting better jobs and high income with gender mainstreaming taking centre stage.

The meeting brought together participants from 20 organisations ranging from manufacturers, domestic and export promoters and designers.

Institutions of higher training, employer partners, representatives of foreign buyers, employee representatives and the national and county governments.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, IDH is a global organisation.

IDH brings together corporations, the global financial sector and governments that have the most influence over global value chains to co-create and co-invest with the aim of creating better jobs, incomes, environment and gender equality.

IDH country director Jenny Löfbom said they are implementing the project in conjunction with Generation Programme Kenya.

“We are on a path to maximise productivity and uphold workplace satisfaction among textiles and apparel industry workers through our project dubbed ‘Better Jobs in Sustainable Textile and Apparel Parks (Instep),” she said.

She noted that the textile and apparel sector in Kenya is largely controlled by global brands that are increasingly enshrining sustainability at the core of their businesses. This includes stringent social standards targeting workers.

“The sector in Kenya has continued to grow and absorb more employees in the last few years," she said.

"The growth in the sector has been triggered by the American Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as well as other internal factors and a shift in supply patterns from Asia driving global brands to increase sourcing from Africa."

Corrine Ngurukie-Yamo from Generation Programme Kenya said the sector is poised for further growth in the coming years owing to a favourable business environment and goodwill from the government.

 “As the sector expands, there is a need to ensure workers are well taken care of including advancing employee support in the socio-economic, psychological, work environment, safety and health and general wellbeing,” she said.

Kenya Association of Manufacturers which was represented by Abel Kamau, the Trade and Policy manager said it is behind the initiative insisting that productivity in the sector is dependent on workers' wellness.

 “We are delighted that IDH has become a pacesetter with Instep which is a clear representation of the need for more investment in this sector,” he said.

“We are looking at a future of more investment in this field by different players and consequently having a fair share in the social departments."

Instep programme manager Caroline Ngumba emphasised on initiatives that promote gender mainstreaming.

“As we promote better jobs and income, we shall also be supporting interventions that also enhance the gender aspect in the industry and this calls for training, policy formulation and strategic partnerships,” she said.

Despite the Economic Survey report of 2022 by KNBS showing that the number of local employees engaged in the Export Processing Zone went up by 17 per cent in 2021, the country is still facing a critical shortage of skilled apparel workers.

Heavy workload is among the challenges that workers in the industry are facing.

Under Instep, IDH is undertaking an assessment of labour rights in industrial parks. Their findings will be used to improve the existing curriculum.

Such as social sustainability including dealing with sexual harassment, industrial rights of workers, sustainable environmental practices like water and energy conservation and proper handling of chemicals.

Others are supporting the inclusion of career development components in entry and intermediate-level employee training, with emphasis on young and female workers.

(Edited by Tabnacha O)