Who Runs Supply Chains? Women Do
By Marissa Brock
The COVID-19 pandemic upended global supply chains in ways that we’ve never seen before, and it has had a disproportionate impact on women in the workforce. Women make up between 60-80% of textile manufacturing workers worldwide and a whopping three-quarters of the 60 million to 75 million workers in textile, clothing, and footwear supply chains (to see for yourself, check out these examples of apparel supply chains). Despite being the backbone of many of the world’s essential supply chains, research estimates that as much as 98% of women in the textile industry are paid below a living wage - all while coping with difficult and often dangerous work.
The pandemic caused a large percentage of women around the world to lose work: according to a report by the UN, the pandemic will push 47 million women and girls into extreme poverty , bringing the total number of women and girls living on $1.90 USD or less to 435 million. The pandemic saw global unemployment rise from 33 million to 220 million in 2020. Women faced unemployment at a higher rate than men, with 5% of working-age women unemployed in 2020 compared to 3.9% of men. Across all regions, women have been more likely than men to drop out of the labor force during this crisis.
Industry is only starting to address the issue: out of the 36 most influential apparel companies, only 15 companies make a reference to employee wages in their supplier code of conduct, either recognizing workers’ right to equitable wage or encouraging suppliers to progressively recognize those rights; but most only require suppliers to pay their workers the legal minimum wage or industry standard.
Consumers are demanding equitable, sustainable practices. One example of this shift can be seen through the #PayUp campaign, which has galvanized more than 200,000 people to call on global apparel companies to honor their contracts to ensure garment workers are paid fairly in this time of crisis. There is a clear opportunity and incentive for companies to do more to empower women in supply chains. Companies have an imperative to invest in the health and well-being of their female workers by meeting their individual needs and rights. A critical step is ensuring that female workers are receiving an equitable wage, and receiving the long-term stability and social safety net that they need to thrive in the workforce. Ensuring women are treated fairly in global supply chains starts with monitoring every supplier to understand how many women are employed, in what roles, and ensuring that downturns do not have a disproportionate impact on the female workforce.
As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel of this pandemic, it is critical that we start building toward a sustained recovery that makes people and value chains less vulnerable to future crises. We cannot talk about sustainability without committing to ensuring that women are equitably paid. Global supply chains depend on women: it's time to make sure that they can depend on us.