The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) have recently launched an innovative training scheme to get more women in supervisory roles in Bangladesh's garment sector.

The Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR) initiative was launched at a high-level International Women's Day reception, hosted by High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh Benoit Prefontaine at his residence, marking 2019 International Women's Day.

Diplomats and representatives from UN agencies, development partners, donors, government bodies, civil society, private sector, employers' organisations and unions attended the launching event, said a press release yesterday.

GEAR is a special initiative of Better Work Bangladesh - jointly implemented by IFC and the ILO. Rolled out in 2016, the programme has made significant strides in advancing women's economic potential and improving access to better jobs and opportunities for women.

"I would slowly but surely like to rise from my current position as a supervisor to a line-chief, then an Assistant Production Manager and finally become a Production Manager," said GEAR-trained supervisor Popy Aktar who works for Sparrow Apparels Ltd in Gazipur.

To date, GEAR has trained 144 female workers; 58 of whom are now in supervisory roles.

Impact assessment shows that lines led by GEAR-trained females experienced an average increase of 5 percent in efficiency, according to ILO Bangladesh office.