We see the possibility of Bangladesh - together with brands and manufacturers - leading a global shift toward genuinely decent and dignified work; the kind of work people can take pride in creating and sustaining.
No single party can bring that future into being
Real, lasting change will require commitment and collaboration from across the system.
Deep fatigue, mistrust, and uncertainty about what a viable alternative looks like will need to be addressed. Fears of exposure, loss of control, and wasted effort must also be overcome.
That’s why building trust, curiosity, and a sense of co-ownership is so critical before we begin to design detailed solutions.
“What does it take to build genuinely decent and dignified work?”
We are bringing together first-movers across Bangladesh’s garment sector to imagine what a new system could look like and to co-create a future where work is genuinely decent and dignified.
This is not a programme. It is a collaborative, cross system process to imagine and build something better.
We don’t have the answers but are encouraged by important possibilities such as worker-driven models, that we will explore together.
Reasons for hope
Proven Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) models, most notably the Fair Food Programme in the US, show that prioritising workers’ voices can lead to sustained improvements in labour conditions and overall wellbeing. As a model this has been recognised as the 'gold standard' for human rights in supply chains, by Harvard Law, and an 'international benchmark', by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking.
We think the WSR model shows real promise and is worthy of exploration. We expect that other promising models will also emerge as we engage with curiosity and courageous imagination.
