Education for Workers
Since 2009, Primark’s partnership with a local organisation in India has provided education to workers in communities where our products are made, and has allowed us to go beyond the factory gate and understand the challenges and issues faced by workers in those communities.
Education
Our education programme focuses on helping workers to understand their rights, and key life skills. It also focuses on important issues such as ensuring workers understand the benefits of education for their children, helping to ensure that communities are free from child labour.
Our education programme continues to grow and develop each year. Together with our partner, we’ve provided free education to over 2381 workers *.
Workers are organised into small groups, typically about 5-7 per group, which enables deep learning and discussion of issues.
Topics include:
- Health and hygiene
- Occupational safety
- Personal development
- Prevention of HIV / AIDS
- Sexual harassment and the rights of women in the workplace
- Labour laws
- Trade Unions and freedom of association
- The role of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
- Codes of conduct and verification
- Child labour
- How to budget and calculate living costs
- Financial education – the benefits of having a bank account
Understanding the challenges faced by communities
Our partner also surveys workers to understand better the challenges they, and their families, and communities face. The surveys provide us with invaluable information which can be used in our monitoring and factory programmes, as well as helping to identify any workers, families, or children that may be vulnerable and at risk. Where issues are identified, our partner provides counselling and support.
* Figures for June 2009 – December 2011