UK government has launched new scheme to protect high street supply chains.
A new programme has been revealed by the UK government to help high street retailers strengthen their global supply chains, supporting their workers in developing countries during the pandemic.
The aim of the scheme – which has the backing of Tesco, Primark and Marks & Spencer among others – is to keep vulnerable workers in the supply chains in safe and secure employment, as well as keeping some of the UK’s favourite products on retail shelves, reported Fashion United.
The UK aid fund will see UK businesses such as Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose partner with organisations including CARE UK, the Fairtrade Foundation and the Ethical Trading Initiative to improve working conditions and support better access to healthcare and health information for workers in some of the poorest countries in the world.
The fund will be made up of £4.85m of UK aid and £2m from businesses. It will focus mainly on supply chains and workers in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana.
M&S will also work together with CARE to improve health services for 80,000 factory workers in Bangladesh who keep its stores stocked with clothing.
Overall, more than 200,000 workers in agriculture and nearly 120,000 garment workers are expected to benefit from the funding.
“Businesses have an important role to play to ensure people within their operations and values chains are safe, treated with dignity and can prosper,” commented Laura Hawkesford, head of private sector for CARE UK.
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