Geneva (ILO News) – Inditex, the world’s largest clothing retailer, is the latest company to join the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN).
Group CEO Oscar García Maceiras announced the move at a meeting in Geneva with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Hombo. Both signed his GBDN Charter. The charter commits company signatories to uphold ten disability inclusion principles. The Charter’s 10 principles include equality of treatment and opportunity, accessibility and awareness, provision of reasonable accommodation in the workplace, and cooperation with disability organizations.
The ILO Director-General welcomed Inditex’s move. “Businesses are increasingly realizing that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts must address disability inclusion in order to lead to positive and sustainable business change. The Global Business and Disability Network provides a unique space for businesses to learn from and support each other in their respective disability inclusion processes,” Houngbo said.
“Inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace is a core component of our commitment to people. It’s a value we all embrace and pursue every day.Our promise is to engineer opportunity for everyone.”
To demonstrate its commitment to GBDN, Inditex plans to employ 1,500 people with disabilities worldwide through its network of stores, logistics facilities, warehouses and offices worldwide. In markets where no specific threshold is required, the company’s goal is to have at least 2% of its local staff disabled.
Founded in 2010, the ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) is an employer-led global network of 36 multinationals, 34 national business and disability networks, including developing countries, and 8 non-business associate members. It works with social networks (academic institutions, disability and development NGOs, etc.) to promote the participation of persons with disabilities in the private commercial sector.
