Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department funds aid programmes that support female garment factory workers in Bangladesh.

The UK supports garment factory workers, more than 70% of whom are female, by improving building safety and working conditions, empowering workers, and urging buyers to take responsibility for their supply chains.

DFID provided £7.4m (2013-2017) to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to improve factory conditions post Rana Plaza collapse. The subsequent ‘Better Jobs in Bangladesh’ programme provides £6.6m (2017-2023) for sustainable inspection and remediation. The UK is also providing £22.43m (2014-2021) to enhance the provision of skills training in the RMG and Construction sectors. This is helping female workers enter higher paid jobs in the sector.