PVH displays a commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. In addition to being a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), the company has established a gender strategy that goes beyond general support for diversity and inclusion to include an organisation-wide commitment to gender representation. The company also aims to support women’s empowerment in the supply chain and has established targets to develop women’s professional and life skills and support their parenting needs as well as advance living wage agreements among its suppliers. Furthermore, it has identified a chief risk officer who leads the sustainability strategy and holds responsibility for gender equality and women’s empowerment at the company. No information was found regarding whether PVH engages its own employees, for instance by conducting surveys, or external stakeholders on gender issues.
The company has a gender-responsive grievance mechanism that reflects an understanding of gender roles and the inequalities women face in the workplace, for instance guaranteeing confidentiality, allowing concerns to be reported anonymously to someone other than the direct supervisor via a telephone line or website, and ensuring non-retaliation and protection of the aggrieved party. Supply chain workers can also access the company’s grievance mechanism, which allows concerns to be reported in 15 languages. Furthermore, suppliers are required to have their own local grievance mechanisms in place.
PVH screens for gender-related issues among its suppliers as part of its audit processes, including sexual harassment, gender-based violence and intimidation as well as retaliation or violence against trade union members. It also requires corrective action to be taken if these issues are identified.