ABF publicly discloses the gender composition across various levels of leadership at least annually. With a workforce that is 52% female, women are underrepresented among its board members (33%) and senior management (36%). Primark, however, maintains gender balance – 40-60% women – in its senior leadership roles (49%) among a workforce that is 74% female.
ABF offers professional development programmes with specific support for women at the group level, notably Women in ABF, which offers networking opportunities and support for personal career development. It has also established the Two-Way Mentoring Programme, which matches women with senior leaders to support their career development and broaden their business experience.
In the supply chain, Primark considers the systemic discrimination that women face and requires its suppliers to comply with its Code of Conduct, including the non-discrimination clause that explicitly protects married women workers. It also promotes gender leadership by offering professional development opportunities to women workers through the Sudokkho project in Bangladesh. This project helps factories improve their systems and processes for training workers in sewing skills. No information was found on whether Primark requires its suppliers to have recognition agreements with local trade unions or collective bargaining agreements currently in place, although it requires suppliers to prohibit intimidation, harassment, retaliation and violence against trade union members.
Primark actively procures from women-owned businesses and takes specific actions to increase the procurement spend directed to these businesses through its Sustainable Cotton Programme, which works directly with female cotton farmers in India through its partnership with Cotton Connect and the Self-Employed Women’s Association. Primark has expanded the programme to Pakistan and China, where it also partners with local implementing partners, such as the Rural Education and Economic Development Society in Pakistan and the Heping Cotton Farmers’ Cooperative in China, in addition to Cotton Connect.