- Worker Wellbeing and Resilience as Key Determinants of Global Industry Sustainability
- Sharing the Role and Challenges of Worker Wellbeing in Global Supply Chains at the Roundtable of Korea
- Call for South Korean Companies to Become Active Partners and Drivers of Long-term Transformation
(Seoul, South Korea – March 31st, 2026) – Worker wellbeing is no longer driven solely by brand compliance — it is becoming a core business priority for manufacturers. As an industry structured around cost and efficiency faces mounting structural pressures, the working conditions and quality of life of workers are being redefined as key determinants of supply chain resilience and competitiveness.
Against this backdrop, Christine Svarer, Executive Director of RISE (Reimagining Industry to Support Equality), visited South Korea in March to meet with leaders from the country’s major textile and fashion companies to discuss the role — and the challenges — of worker wellbeing across global supply chains.
At a roundtable hosted by the Korea Federation of Textile Industries on March 26, Christine Svarer challenged a long-standing industry assumption. “Treating workers as the cheapest and most easily replaceable input is no longer tenable”, she said “People remain the most valuable asset in the garment industry.”
With approximately 60 million people employed across the global garment and footwear sector — 45 million of them in Asia — she emphasized both the scale of the challenge and the need for collective action. Longstanding issues such as low wages, long working hours, and limited opportunities — particularly for women — are now compounded by rising pressures from climate change, technological shifts, and trade volatility.
“What has changed is the scale and intensity of these pressures,” Svarer noted, adding that there is now a growing recognition that worker wellbeing is directly linked to the long-term performance of supply chains.
Founded in 2023 through the alliance of four global organizations — BSR’s HERproject, Gap Inc.’s P.A.C.E., CARE, and Better Work — RISE brings together workers, companies, and policymakers to drive systemic change across global supply chains. Since its inception, the initiative has reached over one million workers across ten countries, placing women workers’ needs and voices at the center while extending benefits to entire workforces and communities.
That collaborative approach is already delivering measurable results. One example highlighted by Svarer is the transition from cash to digital wage payments, enabling workers to better manage their finances while improving operational efficiency for companies. According to RISE, this shift has led to efficiency gains of at least 50%, alongside reduced turnover, improved productivity, and stronger trust between workers and management.
Looking ahead, Svarer outlined three core priorities: financial health, safe and respectful workplaces, and climate resilience. She emphasized that these priorities are deeply interconnected, and that progress requires an integrated approach.
Within this context, South Korea has emerged as a key partner in advancing worker wellbeing across global supply chains. Home to some of the world’s leading apparel manufacturers, Korean companies operate extensively across major production hubs in Asia and Central America, employing hundreds of thousands — in some cases millions — of workers.
Svarer also highlighted the growing leadership role of Asian manufacturers within global supply chains, describing this as a critical moment for business leaders in the region to help shape the agenda and drive change. She stressed that leadership must go beyond production capabilities to include people-centered approaches to operations.
The expanded role of Korean companies is already taking concrete shape. ShinWon Corporation (CEO: JJ Park), a leading global apparel manufacturer, operates 25 entities across 10 countries — including Guatemala, Vietnam, and Indonesia, employing more than 30,000 people worldwide.
Leveraging this global production network, ShinWon serves on the RISE steering board to help shape industry priorities and decision-making while taking into account the reality of apparel vendors. It reflects a broader shift toward manufacturers taking a more active role in global industry governance.
“Supplier voices have too often been absent from these conversations,” said Christine Svarer. “Having manufacturers at the table means we are hearing from those who actually run factories and have a responsibility to look after their workforces.”
With its vertically integrated production structure, ShinWon is also positioned to extend worker wellbeing efforts beyond tier-one factories to earlier stages of the supply chain, where workers are often less visible.
To support women’s social and economic empowerment, ShinWon operates a comprehensive Social Compliance program, providing financial literacy education and savings support to expand workers’ access to financial services, and help them build more stable, long-term lives. This approach illustrates how worker wellbeing can be directly linked to productivity and long-term business resilience.
As Executive Director of RISE, Svarer emphasized that manufacturers hold a unique position through their direct relationship with workers, giving them both influence and responsibility across global supply chains.
This perspective reflects a broader shift in the industry, where worker wellbeing is increasingly viewed as a core driver of long-term competitiveness. As labor dynamics evolve and workers seek better conditions, companies that recognize this shift — and respond proactively — are likely to be better positioned in an increasingly complex global supply chain environment.
