Fast Retailing, a global apparel company, has announced new targets for its Women Empowerment Program in Bangladesh. The program, initiated in 2019 with support from UN Women, aims to empower women and increase their participation in leadership roles in the garment industry.

The new targets, to be achieved by the end of 2025, include training 1,500 female workers to be supervisors, ensuring at least 30 per cent of supervisory and/or managerial roles are held by women, and providing female employees with increased access to childcare facilities, physical and mental wellbeing support, and safe transportation to and from the workplace. The targets will be implemented in eight of Fast Retailing's partner garment factories in Bangladesh.

Since its launch, the Women Empowerment Program has provided leadership and technical-skills training to female workers aspiring to become supervisors. By the end of FY 2022, 163 female workers had been promoted to management positions through the program.

To deepen the impact of the program, Fast Retailing plans to expand the number of training sessions and strengthen the enabling environment for female workers to thrive and feel safe in the workplace. Activities will include supporting the implementation of new and fit-for-purpose childcare facilities and services, understanding the challenges and opportunities for physical and mental wellbeing support, and addressing existing risks female workers face during their commute.

Fast Retailing's Women Empowerment Program demonstrates the company's commitment to championing gender equality in the apparel industry and empowering women to become leaders in the workplace.