FAQ

21. What is the MADE project?

The Multistakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in Myanmar (‘MADE in Myanmar’) is a four-year project (December 2022- December 2026), formally launched in March 2023, which is primarily funded by the European Union with the objective of strengthening responsible business practices in the textile, clothing and footwear sector, achieving critical industry improvements and protecting livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of families. Specifically, it aims to:

  • strengthen economic resilience and transparency practices across the Myanmar apparel industry.

  • support worker access to functional and credible grievance mechanisms at both factory and, eventually, industry level.

  • promote industry best practices with regards to occupational safety and health, social compliance, and environmental management.

  • facilitate and nurture dialogue between employers, workers, and international stakeholders.

  • provide enhanced support to women workers to advance their positions and standing in the workforce.

    MADE has three components:

    1. The SMART Factories Programme, a series of enterprise advisory modules and workshops continuing

      from prior phases of the SMART Myanmar project (2013-2022). The SMART Factories Programme focuses on social compliance and environmental performance in the Myanmar textile, clothing and footwear industries, especially occupational safety and health, conformance with UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and international retailer codes of conduct.

    2. The Forum on Supply Chain Conduct – This is intended to promote and nurture cross-sectoral dialogue between business associations, trade union federations and labour rights groups and international retailers for the benefit of workers in the industry and more responsible industrial development.

    3. The Centres for Women’s Advancement – This will support two Women’s Community Centers to provide special outreach and educational and social support to women workers, in particular young migrants.

22. What will MADE do to improve grievance handling and complaints?

MADE believes that, in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, companies have a responsibility to provide for, or cooperate through legitimate processes in, the remediation of adverse human rights impacts where they identify that they have caused or contributed to these impacts.   

To underpin this, Member Companies of the Alliance are expected to commit to supporting freedom of association; to have, and require business partners to have, effective grievance handling mechanisms; to monitor their effectiveness; and to ensure rapid action once grievances are raised.  

Furthermore, MADE will be an opportunity for companies to share current practices for grievance handling and worker engagement and lessons learned with other companies, as well as with trade unions and labour organisations, in MADE’s Forum on Supply Chain Conduct. 

23. Who funds the MADE project?

Core funding of 3 million euro is provided by the European Union. Larger private sector apparel retailers (brands, buyers) which join the Alliance are expected to co-fund with additional contributions ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 EUR annually, based on company size and size of operation in Myanmar. Companies with smaller volumes in production (e.g. sourcing from 3 or fewer factories in Myanmar or own manufacturers) can participate vis-à-vis their membership in EuroCham. Retailer contributions are used to co-fund the entire project and, eventually, to expand the scope of enterprise advisory services, training workshops and services on offer by the project’s women’s centres.

24. Will MADE establish a sector-wide grievance mechanism?

Given that not all brands and their suppliers are expected to be a part of MADE, a sector-wide grievance mechanism is unlikely to be achievable.  Nonetheless, MADE and Member Companies will explore the scope for sectoral approaches to grievance handling and worker engagement, drawing on lessons from other initiatives, e.g. Fairwear Foundation, and advice from trade unions and labour rights organisations 

Pages