Nike and ILO join forces to reduce road accidents among garment workers

The International Labour Organization has launched an initiative in partnership with sportswear giant Nike to “reduce injuries and deaths from road accidents among garment and footwear workers”. This sector was selected as such workers are disproportionately involved in road accidents, for example as a result of “commuting long distances”, according to a statement announcing the initiative. Nike will produce “guidance materials” on commuting safety, which will be piloted at subcontractor manufacturing facilities that produce Nike products. The sportswear manufacturer will also seek to provide “safe, hygienic, and healthy workplaces” along its value chain, which is reflected in the health and safety component of its non-financial targets. The joint initiative builds on the Vision Zero Fund, which has seen Nike and Siemens partner with government ministries and international organisations to launch initiatives to provide health and safety training and improve working conditions in eight developing countries (Mexico, Colombia, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Laos, Honduras, and Vietnam). Ockert Dupper, the Vision Zero Fund’s global programme manager, says the partnership ” gives us an opportunity to identify the underlying causes beyond vehicle drivers that need to be addressed to reduce injuries and deaths from road accidents, and to collectively develop a more powerful and standardised approach”.