Sector portal
Textiles, clothing, leather and footwear sector
The sector is characterized by geographically dispersed production and dynamic market-driven transformations. It contributes significantly to economic and social development and provides employment opportunities to millions of workers worldwide, especially young women.
The future of work in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear is increasingly uncertain. The tragedy of the Rana Plaza collapse brought worldwide attention to the urgent need to improve workplace safety and working conditions in line with the ILO Code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear. A just transition is key to advancing sustainability, circularity and decent work in the sector.
Code of practice
The purpose of this code is to provide practical guidance for the use of all those, both in the public and private sectors, who have obligations, responsibilities, duties and rights regarding safety and health in the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industries.
Programmes and projects
The ILO promotes Decent Work in the textiles, apparel, leather and footwear sectors in the following regions and countries. To learn more, please click on the relevant button.
Key projects
Joint ILO IFC programme
The Better Work Programme
Safety and Health for All
Vision Zero Fund
Supply chains for a sustainable future of work
Advancing decent work in supply chains through sectoral social dialogue
Sustainable supply chains to build forward better
Sectoral Meetings
Geneva, 4-8 October 2021
Meeting of Experts to discuss and adopt a code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear
Geneva, 23-25 September 2014
Global Dialogue Forum on Wages and Working Hours in the Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industries
Events
Workshop on Safety and Health in tanning and leather industries
Workshop on a just transition and skills development in the textiles and clothing sector
Webinar
Promoting digital wage payments in the Cambodian garment sector
News
First ever ILO programme on living wages launched by heads of ILO, ITUC and IOE
Skills development
ILO and national partners launch two key reports towards a sector skills strategy for Viet Nam’s textile and garment industry
SCORE Project: ILO presents the impacts on productivity and working conditions in SMEs in Brazil 's Garment Sector
All publications
ILO Technical brief
Decent work opportunities and challenges in recycling
Advancing Decent Work in Supply chains
Decent Work Challenges and Opportunities in the Textiles and Clothing Sector
ILO Brief
Advancing a Safe and Healthy Working Environment and Decent Work in the Tanning and Leather Industry
Training programmes
Training of the Code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear
The Better Work Academy
ILO | Training Programmes / Factory Improvement Toolset (FIT)
Collective action for a safe commute