Liu Minxia

    mllmx@msn.com

    MORE than 22,000 women from 43 factories across China have benefited from a training program aimed at empowering women working in the manufacturing sector, where 60 percent of the employees are female.

    Launched in 2011 by Walmart and non-profit organization BSR (Businesses for Social Responsibility), the program will teach 26,000 women in 45 Chinese factories before the end of next year critical life skills related to communication, hygiene, reproductive health, occupational health and financial planning, a conference was told yesterday. Roughly 80 percent of the program’s goal has been met and more than 16,000 men have also received training, conference attendees were told.

    On completion of the preliminary training, up to 4,500 women will also receive advanced leadership training to develop work and life skills necessary for personal and career development.

    “The program aims to empower women and bring sustainable change to factories that produce for Walmart and other brands and retailers,” said Ignacio Lopez, vice president of Walmart’s global sourcing. “We are also planning to increase sourcing from companies run by women. We sourced US$637 million of goods in 2014 from 45 Chinese companies owned by women, 44 percent more than a year ago. Our goal is to double the amount of sourcing globally in 2016.”

    Female workers and human resources managers at factories said they have seen the difference the program has made. About 70 percent of those who received training said the program helped them adapt better to the work while 72 percent said what they learned through the program enabled them to solve programs they met in life and work.

    Even male workers said they benefited hugely from the program. Zhang Chungang, a worker with Wistron Group’s Zhongshan factory, said the program changed his way of thinking and way of dealing with people. “My superior thinks I am a much better manager now and my subordinates think I’m more reliable,” he said. “Changes also happened in my personal life, with my wife thinking me a more careful husband and my son regarding me as a more amiable father.”

    Zeng Deshou, human resources manager with Hayco Industries, a battery maker in Shenzhen, said there are great differences between those who received the training and those who didn’t. “Those who received training are more passionate, more confident and more efficient. They have higher goals in life and work and have better relationships with others,” Zeng said.

    Plants willing to train their female employees, even those who are not Walmart suppliers, can join the program for free, said Nancy Ye, chairperson of Walmart China Women in Leadership Steering Committee and vice president of logistics operations of Walmart China.