Joint-funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), the Skills Foundation, whose premises are located in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, will show managers how to improve productivity and working conditions at the same time. The Foundation will train and upskill factory owners on better worker management, ethical leadership and new production techniques to increase productivity.

Initiatives that have already been trialled in pilot programmes, which include reducing long working hours, giving workers productivity bonuses and implementing mentoring and buddy systems for new workers, have improved the working environment as well as making the factories more productive and sustainable.   

The Skills Foundation is open to all garment producers in Bangladesh, whether or not they supply Tesco. The Skills Foundation expects to train over 100 factories by the end of 2015, with a potential to improve the lives of up to 250,000 garment workers in Bangladesh.

Attending the opening of the Skills Foundation on Saturday 10th November, Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco’s Executive Director for Corporate and Legal Affairs, said: ‘The Skills Foundation is a smart, sustainable business solution.  Increasing efficiency and productivity will improve the lives, pay and conditions of garment factory workers while enabling us to deliver high quality clothing to our customers at affordable prices without comprising on ethics.  This is the right thing to do and a win-win for Tesco, our suppliers and their workers, and our customers.’ 

Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, said:"This Skills Foundation will act as a great example to show how responsible and ethical garment production is good for business and that commercial and financial results can be boosted when employment conditions improve.

"I am delighted that, together, Tesco and the UK Government are encouraging this much needed positive change in the garment industry in Bangladesh with the Responsible and Accountable Garment Sector (RAGS) Challenge Fund.”

Tesco