Walmart training 60,000 women workers in India, China

NEW YORK: Global retail giant Walmart has launched a training and education programme that will benefit about 60,000 women working in its factories in India, Bangladesh and China.

The 'Women in Factories' programme is a five-year initiative that will be implemented in collaboration with local NGOs and teach "critical life skills" related to communication, hygiene, reproductive health, occupational health and safety and gender sensitivity.

About 8,000 women will also receive leadership training to develop the work and life skills necessary for personal and career development.

The initiative would be rolled out to 150 factories in India, Bangladesh, China and Central America over the next five years, initially launching in Bangladesh and India this year.

"Through this programme, women in the supply chain will receive the education and training they need to achieve greater success in their jobs and live a better life," Walmart Ethical Sourcing vice president Rajan Kamalanathan said in a statement.

The 'Women in Factories' initiative is a training and education programme designed to empower women at work, home and in their communities. It would educate participating suppliers and factory managers on how to permanently sustain and replicate the programme.

The programme was designed and will be implemented in collaboration with NGOs CARE in Bangladesh and SWASTI in India. The programme is part of Walmart's Global Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative, which was launched in 2011 September by Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke.

The initiative aims to improve lives of Walmart's suppliers, associates and customers.