Creating responsible supply chains means looking beyond the products we make. It means investing in the wellbeing, development and opportunities of the people who make them.
Across the global garment industry, women make up a significant proportion of the workforce. While employment can provide financial independence and new opportunities, many women continue to face challenges both in and outside the workplace, including limited access to health education, financial services and support around gender equality.
That's why we're proud to support the HERproject, a global initiative that helps improve the lives of women working throughout international supply chains.
The HERproject, developed by Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), is one of the world's leading workplace programmes focused on empowering women through education, training and workplace engagement.
The programme has reached hundreds of thousands of workers across countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan and Vietnam.
By working directly with factories, the HERproject helps create healthier, safer and more inclusive workplaces while supporting long-term social and business improvements.
The HERproject focuses on three key areas that support both workers and employers.
HERrespect
HERrespect helps create workplaces where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Through practical training for both managers and colleagues, the programme raises awareness of gender equality, helps prevent harassment and encourages positive workplace relationships.
HERhealth
HERhealth improves access to health education and services, helping workers make informed decisions about their wellbeing and giving them greater confidence to look after themselves and their families.
HERfinance
HERfinance provides straightforward financial education, helping workers build confidence in managing their money, understanding financial products and planning for the future.
Many participants go on to become peer educators, sharing what they've learned with colleagues, friends and members of their local communities, creating a lasting ripple effect beyond the workplace.
At Dimensions, supporting responsible and ethical supply chains is an important part of how we do business.
We've successfully introduced the HERrespect programme within two of our supplier factories in Bangladesh, reaching more than 4,000 workers. The programme has helped increase awareness of gender equality and respectful workplace behaviours while strengthening relationships between colleagues and management.
We're continuing to work alongside our suppliers to ensure these improvements are embedded for the long term, while also expanding our involvement in programmes such as HERhealth to support even more workers across our global supply chain.
The benefits of the HERproject extend far beyond the factory floor.
Participating facilities have reported improvements including stronger working relationships, increased awareness of health and wellbeing, greater use of personal protective equipment (PPE), reduced absenteeism and higher productivity.
By investing in people, we're helping build more resilient, inclusive and sustainable supply chains, creating positive outcomes for workers, suppliers, customers and communities alike.