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Inditex commits €3.75m to educate female garment workers in Bangladesh

Inditex, the parent company of fashion brand Zara, has partnered with the Asian University for Women (AUW) to initiate a scholarship programme designed to enhance the educational opportunities for women employed in Bangladesh's textile factories.

The programme, backed by a €3.75m ($4.16m) investment from Inditex, is slated to assist 50 female workers in Bangladesh by funding their academic journey, including pre-university and university studies over a five-year period.

It is scheduled to commence with the next academic cycle and aims to cover the full spectrum of educational expenses for these individuals, encompassing tuition fees, housing, and daily living costs.

The selection of candidates for this scholarship will be from among the employees of Inditex's supplier network in Bangladesh.

The process of identifying eligible participants will kick off shortly within Inditex's supplier factories in Bangladesh.

The AUW will facilitate information sessions and carry out interviews and entrance examinations at the factories to identify potential scholarship recipients.

Inditex CEO Óscar García Maceiras said: "At Inditex, we believe that empowering women through education is one of the most effective ways to drive lasting and meaningful change in these communities.

“Through this scholarship programme, we are investing in the future of female workers—the backbone of our supply chain—by providing them with the tools to unlock new opportunities and foster progress within their communities."

The issue of limited access to higher education for women in Bangladesh is particularly pressing, with growth in female university attendance lagging behind that of males.

AUW focuses on enabling women from diverse backgrounds to become competent professionals and leaders who can contribute to economic and societal advancement.

AUW chancellor Cherie Blair said: "At a time when uncertainty in global affairs has reached a new height, the partnership between Inditex and the Asian University for Women reminds us of what really matters --- the weakest in our society must get the opportunities to rise above the circumstances that circumscribe the possibilities in their life.

“As the first one in my family to enter university, I know how powerful higher education can be in opening doors that otherwise remain unimaginable. I commend Inditex for this far-reaching commitment that will help deepen AUW’s ability to identify talent where few others see them and nurture them so that they too can contribute in the making of a better future for themselves and the world.”