Preventing Violence and Harassment at Work

A woman working at a sewing machine looks up from her work. Behind her, many other women work at their stations.

Women working in garment factories deserve to feel safe and respected. Across Asia, some factories are already making changes—and CARE wants to help more employers take action to end harassment at work.

Background

Sexual harassment can happen in any workplace. In the garment industry, it’s a widespread problem, but it’s a problem that can be stopped. Real change happens when workers, employers, and communities come together to create safe, respectful workplaces where harassment is not tolerated.

Businesses around the world are recognizing that safety and dignity at work benefit everyone. CARE’s research in Cambodia showed that harassment doesn’t just harm women. It also costs businesses up to USD $89 million per year in lost productivity, revenue, and sick days.*

Our work

CARE is helping the garment industry lead the way in ending workplace harassment. We partner with companies that are ready to take action and offer the tools and support they need.

Here’s what we’re doing:

  • Setting clear standards: With Better Factories Cambodia, we developed standardized guidelines that help factories prevent and respond to harassment at every level of the garment supply chain.
  • The STOP program: This program supported brands and factories in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam improve their workplace policies and responses to harassment.
  • Industry events: We co-hosted with Better Work and organized a Learning Summit to share success stories and document examples of best practice.
  • Supporting women’s leadership: We help women raise their voices and take action against the increase in abuse during the pandemic.
  • Working with unions: We partner with unions to strengthen their ability to negotiate and advocate for safer workplaces.
  • Shaping better laws: Our advocacy has helped influence both global and national laws to prevent workplace violence and support workers’ rights.
  • Sharing tools: We work with partners like Business Fights Poverty to offer practical resources that help companies prevent violence against women and girls at work.

Our impact

CARE’s work is helping shift industry norms—and the results are clear. From factory floors to national policy, change is happening.

By working together, we’re making sure women’s voices are heard—and that safer workplaces become the standard everywhere.

Resources

Creating Ethical Supply Chains

Robust research & practical tools can influence industry.

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Protecting Workers from Harassment

Effective engagement is influencing government policy.

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‘I know I cannot quit.’ The Prevalence and Productivity Cost of Sexual Harassment to the Cambodian Garment Industry

CARE’s research estimates sexual harassment has a cost to the industry in Cambodia of as much as USD 89 million per annum. (March 2017)

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What works? Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: A Rapid Review of Evidence

CARE completed a review of promising practices to drive an evidence-based approach to reducing sexual harassment in the garment industry. (November 2018)

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What Works? A summary of CARE’s evidence review

Highlights from CARE’s rapid review of promising practices to reducing sexual harassment in the workplace. (November 2018)

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Sexual Harassment and Garment Manufacturing in the Mekong: Legal Frameworks

CARE’s report outlines the legislative or regulatory frameworks on or related to sexual harassment in the workplace, both at national and international levels, with particular focus on Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. (November 2018)

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This Is Not Working: Stopping Sexual Harassment in Workplaces Across our Region

CARE Australia’s report on violence and harassment in the world of work that outlines the key arguments for the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention. (April 2018)

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This Is Not Working: A Global Opportunity for Change

CARE Australia’s report on violence and harassment in the world of work that outlines the key arguments for the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention. (March 2019)

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Preventing Violence and Harassment at Work - Full Report

An exploration of the prevalence and productivity cost of sexual harassment Cambodian garment industry.

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What Works? Reducing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

A rapid review of evidence and recommendations intended to provide principles to guide responses and prevention.

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