VF's Commitment
VF Corporation is committed to providing a safe environment for all employees, in all operations throughout our business. Everyone throughout our business has the right to be free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH).
At VF, we understand that violence and harassment, including GBVH, creates a hostile, intimidating or humiliating environment for the recipient. Violence and harassment in the world of work can affect a person’s psychological and physical health, and dignity.
No worker should have to risk their dignity, health or life to work at VF or in the apparel supply chain. We understand the seriousness and prevalence of violence and harassment in the world of work, especially in portions of the garment and footwear sector. Violence and harassment can be experienced by anybody, but it is disproportionately experienced by women. Worldwide there are approximately 60–70 million garment workers, around 80% of which are women. Read more here.
S.A.F.E Together Program
About the program
The GBVH Blended learning training with Change and Quizrr provides facilities in VF’s global supply chain with tools to effectively build functioning workplaces with zero tolerance for harassment. With a long-term approach, VF covers the fees for the initial phase of the Blended learning Training.
The program combines onsite consultation and training of Ambassadors provided by Change combined with Quizrr’s digital training for workers, middle managers and managers to enable a scalable user-centric, engaging learning experience for stand alone and blended learning settings.
The Gender-based Violence and Harassment curricula is based on Bangladesh’ GBVH requirements, supplier standards, Change’s program and Quizrr’s methodology.
Ensuring successful outcome
5 easy steps
1. Create implementation team
Put together a team of dedicated managers and employees who will be programme champions! Explain the goals and benefits of the programme, and empower them to share the information (key dates, how to participate) with their colleagues. Check in with them periodically and support them in their efforts.
2. Attend onboarding sessions
Please join the onboarding sessions to understand how the survey and training will work, what types of results you might expect, and how to engage and empower your workers to share their voice!
3. Set training plans to meet targets
Quizrr will support your implementation team with developing a training plan to ensure you meet your training targets in a timely manner without jeopardising your production targets. Please follow the training plan closely to ensure everyone will have access to the training.
4. Engage and follow-up through dashboards
Access Quizrr dashboard to check in with your participation rate and training results.
5. Q&A
Do you need more support on training? Click here to access Quizrr Helpdesk.
Program outline
Session 1
- Project Overview and Objectives
Session 2
Exploring Gender related concept
- Sex & Gender, Socialization process of Gender
- Types/forms of Violence and Harassments around us.
- Causes and Effects of GVBH (Especially at Workplace)
Session 3
Dealing With Harassment and Abuse
- Existing process or mechanism in the factory’s grievance procedure, written policies
- GBVH as a violation of Human rights, International and National legal framework
- The Directions of High court Guideline 2009.
- What is Complaint Committee (CC), its function and area of work?
- What should I do if/when I notice/experience any incident of Sexual Harassment?
Session 4
- The culture of ‘Silence’ among women at workplace and its impact.
- Raising our voice and speak up against Sexual harassment.
Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Milestones
By 2025, workers in all tier 1 facilities experience safer workplaces with less GBVH and trust the functioning prevention and remediation mechanisms in their workplace.
- All VF authorized facilities have an anti-harassment and abuse policy in place and are complying with local law regarding functioning anti-harassment committees.
- All VF authorized facilities in tier 1 have robust prevention and reporting mechanisms in place on GBVH – including a policy, grievance mechanism, functioning committee, managers trained to handle complaints, and preventative training for the workforce.
- # and % of female workers that recognise what GBVH is in their workplace
- % of workers (disaggregated by gender) who report 'less GBVH is experienced in the workplace’
- # and % of female workers that are aware of their rights in relation to GBVH
- # and % of female workers that are aware of reporting mechanisms to support addressing GBVH
- # and % of female workers expressing greater confidence to raise issue of GBVH in the workplace
- # of cases of GBVH reported and appropriately remediated in the supply chain
- # (and %) of targeted factories who have implemented a GBVH mechanism in the workplace which complies with local law regarding anti-harassment committees
Benefits of the Blended Learning program
In addition to awareness raising and capacity building to workers, management and CC, we strongly believe that this program will achieve a respectful and safe workplace for all which ultimately will increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and retain skilled workforce.
- On-site in-person capacity building using the participatory approach combined with engaging tech-based awareness raising.
- Raise awareness and enhance knowledge for all employees at all levels
- Build skills and competence of the Complaint Committee members
- Build competence, capacity, and systems in the organization.
About Quizrr
Quizrr uses relatable, engaging, and gamified digital content with short live-action and animated films along with quiz questions – all in local languages. With Quizrr, you can easily train and empower your workforce, track their progress on the online dashboard, and improve worker engagement.
The relatable and interactive training, with live-action dramas and animations based on local culture and settings paired with quiz questions, effectively captures the interest of worker while conveying a sense of reality. Trainings can be conducted individually on smartphones or in small groups (up to five people) on tablets.
Training Modules:
– Understanding gender
– Gender abuse & harassment
– Protection & policies
– Workplace gender protection
Flexible & Efficient
Easy to plan and scale up. Train individually or in groups.
Engaging & Interactive
Relatable content that speaks directly to workers. Builds and improves workplace dialogue.
Strengthen Buyer Relations
Establishes trust and transparency. Allows data sharing with your business partner.
Business Benefits
Increases worker engagement, which can lead to improved production and less worker turnover.
The toolkit includes resources for management to prepare and facilitate training.
Download & Installation of the Quizrr App
Click here to access a step by step manual to download the app.
Smartphone Training Manual
Click here to access supporting material for smartphone deployment.
Tablet Training Manual
Click here to access supporting material for tablet deployment.
Training Tips
Click here to access supporting material to ensure a successful deployment.
Training Poster
Click here to access the training poster to print.
QR Code poster
About Change Associates
Change is a women-led non-profit organization established in 2010 committed to bring a positive CHANGE in the workforce industry through innovative approaches.
Change collaboratively works with manufacturing companies and apparel brands to design and implement workplace-based programs aimed at building respectful work environments.
The focus is to create equitable and productive working culture at workplaces and change lives to create a thriving workforce thereby empowering the manufacturing community.
We promote long-term sustainable development by sharing our knowledge and expertise through designing customized training programmes to address specific needs of the clients.
We believe in creating synergy through cross-sector partnership that leads to continual development of the workers as well as management in the RMG sector.
We promote long-term sustainable development by sharing our expertise through designing customized training and wellbeing programs to address specific needs of the clients.
We design and implement evidence-based and participatory focused programs in the following areas:
- Health & Wellbeing
- Financial Literacy & Inclusion
- Respect & Relationships
- Custom Designed Programmes
- Focuses on participatory approach that creates a win-win situation for management, workers and all stakeholders
- Focuses on creating significant impact through meaningful interventions for both management and workers achieving long-term sustainability
- Specializes in designing evidence-based programme in accordance with the SDGs
- Expertise on designing customized programmes based on specific needs
- Experience to work with major apparel brands, factories, Ngos, INgos and foundations
- Extensive expertise to work with both management and workers to raise awareness and build capacities
In-person Engagement
- Kick-off Meeting
- Baseline Survey
- Capacity building of management and workers
- Capacity Strengthening of Complaint Committee (CC) members
- End-line Survey
Training Approach
Change Associates will use participatory approach throughout the training program. The methodology of the training is guided by principles of adult learning and participatory training. The methods employed under this approach include group discussion, role play, open discussion, visual presentations. This approach enables participants to analyze macro structures, systems and institutions from their own life experiences.
Training Content
The training content is focused on improving industrial relations through prevention and protection from GBVH in workplace. It will cover the following areas:
- Understanding gender
- Knowing about gender-based violence and harassment
- Dealing with GBVH - International and National policies
- High Court Guideline 2009
- App based training on GBVH
Audio clips for the program to be played at the factory PA system.
A training poster for the program.
VF Corporation
Contact – Sokunthea Seng, Worker Rights Manager
Quizrr
Change Associates
