Worker Engagement for Social Responsibility

China Mobile Training Program

Workers in China lack basic information about their rights, and about ways in which they can protect themselves, such as how their wages are calculated, how to file a grievance and what chemicals are in use in their factories.  As a result workers are prone to unsafe, unfair and illegal labor conditions, and have little or no recourse to the protections that do exist.

To help workers develop the understanding and skills to participate in improving labor protections in their workplaces, Verité conducts training programs that provide essential information, new perspectives and practical tools for personal and professional development. In the last decade, Verité’s Mobile Training Program has engaged approximately 120,000 workers.  In response to factory requests, we have also added workshops for managers that complement and magnify the impact of our worker courses.

Verité trainers, NGO partners and issue specialists make seven to 10 visits to each factory during the year. Based on a Training Needs Assessment, the workshops are highly practical, participatory and can accommodate up to 100 workers each. The cost of the program is US$500-$750 per visit (exclusive of travel) depending on the design and number of factories.

Sample Courses for Workers

Working Conditions

• Occupational Health and Safety (Shop Floor and Dorm)
• Occupational Disease Prevention
• CSR & Common Code of Conduct Issues
• Labor Law
• Understanding Wages and Benefits
• A Positive Workplace: Workers’ Perspectives on Grievance, Harassment and Discipline

Life Skills

• Social Skills & Communication for Conflict Resolution
• Managing Interpersonal Relationships and Peer Support
• Stress Management
• The Basics of Manners and Adjusting to Urban Life
• Women’s Reproductive Health and Personal Hygiene
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Nutrition and Health
• Managing Personal Finance
• Saying ‘No’: Protecting Yourself from Harassment
• Designing Your Life (career planning)
• Self-awareness and Leadership
  

Worker Participation

• Mechanisms and Models for Worker Participation
• Participatory Assessments of Working Conditions

Sample Courses for Managers

• Overview of Social Compliance and Codes of Conduct
• Building a Positive Workplace: Grievances, Harassment and Discipline
• Managing Human Resources for Improved Performance
• Advanced Communication for Conflict Resolution
• Worker Participation: Theory, Mechanisms and Models
• Participatory Workplace Assessments (tools & techniques)

To learn more about these programs contact:

Ms. Lydia Long, Director of Programs llong@verite.org +413-253-9227