Walmart helps women to take control of their lives

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to describe numerous ways in which supermarket Walmart is seeking to improve the lives of women across the world. Design/methodology/approach – It looks in particular at the Women in Factories program, which is helping to train more than 60,000 women working in factories in India, Bangladesh, China and Central America that supply products to the supermarket giant and other retailers. Findings – It charts how the program, launched in Bangladesh and India in 2012, will reach 150 factories in India, Bangladesh, China and Central America by 2017. Practical implications – It explains that by educating and empowering women in factories and creating a stronger supply chain, suppliers realize greater efficiencies in their factories, which should result in higher-quality products, lower prices and more reliable product availability for customers. Social implications – It reveals that Walmart is sharing the Women in Factories curriculum with other retailers who can choose to implement it in their own supply chains. Originality/value – It details various ways in which Walmart seeks to improve economic and social conditions for women around the world.