Gap Inc.'s PACE program for female garment workers

The Brandix Group will extend the Gap Inc. Personal and Career Enhancement (PACE) program for female garment workers to the Group's facilities in Sri Lanka.

Gap Inc.’s training program in progress.

The Gap Inc. PACE program is a life and work skills education program designed to positively impact female garment workers in factories that make Gap Inc. product. The program provides workers with foundational skills, technical training and support to help them advance in the workplace and in their personal lives.

Female garment workers will participate in eight modules of life skills education including communication skills, problem-solving, time and stress management, health and nutrition, financial literacy and gender equality. Program participants also receive enhanced technical skills training.

Research shows that Gap Inc. PACE graduates are more productive, have lower rates of absenteeism and are promoted faster than factory workers who do not participate in the program.

"Brandix is happy to undertake the implementation of this valuable empowerment program," said Head of CSR for the Group, Anusha Alles. "Implementing the Gap Inc. PACE program and integrating it into our internal learning curriculum reinforces Brandix's commitment to bettering the lives of our associates."

Gap Inc.'s Director of Social and Community Investment, Ira Puspadevi said, "We are very happy that Brandix has chosen to expand the Gap Inc. PACE program to their facilities in Sri Lanka. PACE is successful in part due to the commitment vendors such as Brandix have made to integrate the program into their ongoing factory training."

As a first step, nine selected trainers from Brandix Casualwear are to be trained as trainers for the PACE program. They in turn will train 210 Brandix associates from Brandix Casualwear, Ratmalana till next month.