DUSHANBE, May 25, 2015, Asia-Plus — The International Trade Center (ITC) raises the attention of the Tajik textile industry stakeholders to the occupational health, safety and social responsibility.
Two workshops on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for the representatives of the textile and clothing companies were held in Dushanbe on May 14-15 and in Khujand, the capital of Sughd province on May 19-20.
Initiated and organized by ITC and funded by the Government of Switzerland within its Trade Cooperation Program (TCP) in Tajikistan, the workshops were reportedly planned and conducted by the ITC international consultant, Ms. Oxana Gerasimova.
According to ITC Tajikistan, main approaches in corporate social responsibility and occupational safety and health in the textile and clothing sector and its elements, economic benefits of good working conditions, communication and cooperation in workplace, risk assessment and risk factors were in the focus of the workshops and were accompanied with a practical exercise on risk assessment.
Ms. Gerasimova says the topic is very important for Tajik enterprises working in the new market economy conditions. Nowadays employers should understand that investments in good working conditions, development of preventive culture are beneficial for the company and improve its sustainability and productivity. Still, there is plenty of room for work in this area. The International Trade Centre will continue its focus to assist the Tajikistan textile and clothing sector in improving corporate social responsibility and occupational safety and health.
The present project is component FOUR of the Trade Cooperation Program (TCP) in Tajikistan and aims to increase the export competitiveness of the textile and clothing (T&C) sector, by providing sector specific support to SMEs and relevant trade support institutions (TSIs), as well as supporting respective stakeholders in taking a strategic approach to the sector’s development. It will also explore the challenges and development potential of the tourism and handicraft sectors in Tajikistan, outlining relevant trade related technical assistance priorities.
Within its Cooperation Strategy for 2012-2015, Switzerland focuses on four sectors in Tajikistan; Health, Rule of Law, Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, and Private Sector Development. The overall goal of Swiss Cooperation in Tajikistan is to support the transition process in the country through contributing to economic development and by helping build institutions and systems which are responsive to the population’s needs.
