The ILO’s Productivity Ecosystems constitutes a systemic approach to identifying and strengthening key productivity drivers and promoting their positive linkages to decent work and economic growth in a given context. This case study is part of a broader series that seeks to shed light on key drivers of inclusive productivity growth and to showcase how the ILO has helped strengthen those drivers. Concrete examples are presented of how the ILO facilitated or promoted change that led to positive impact on productivity and decent work, especially for MSMEs.

This case study zooms in on the ILO’s tools and experiences in promoting gender equality for productivity and decent work at the enterprise level, focusing on Better Work’s and SCORE’s engagements with the garment, construction and retail sectors. While recognising that barriers to gender equality play out across different levels, including across sectors and at the national level, this case study shows how such barriers within a company’s sphere of control can be addressed, resulting in improvements in gender equality, working conditions, as well as productivity.