Skip to content

Threads of pain – textile workers

Upper East Province, Ghana

These skilled workers produce highly desirable products. But with few safety and health safeguards in place, the women are at risk of musculoskeletal disorders. They also make little money. This must change. We’ve documented current practices and will work with partners to make our recommendations for an improved working environment a reality.

A textile weaver producing cloth on a manual hand machine in Ghana

The textile weavers of Upper East Ghana are highly skilled and the beautiful textiles they produce are in demand.

This work is invariably done by girls and younger women. As individual home workers, they use manual hand machines. Each line of woven cloth is conducted by hand and a simple scarf takes two weeks to craft.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common. The women develop chronic feet and leg deformities, as the manufacturing process requires repetitive foot pressure on the weaving machine at an age when their bodies are still growing. They can develop raised arches in their feet, which makes walking hard for the rest of their lives.

They also use very heavy rocks to hold tension on strands of cloth. Manual handling these rocks for eight to 10 hours a day results in lifelong back and posture issues.

Despite their skill and hard work, the women retain little of the product value and are invariably impoverished. This can lead to sexual exploitation in the workplace in order for them to survive.

These are based on the risk assessment recommendations for a safer and healthier working life for the textile workers and include both short- and long-term targets. You can download the risk assessment at the bottom of the page.

Provide workers with the tools and facilities to conduct their work in a safe and healthy way. 

Support the workers and community to make the transition from informal to formal economy. 

Educate and train the workers on the hazards and risks of their working practices and explain how these can be avoided.  

Educate and train equipment manufacturers on the hazards and risks of the communities’ working practices and the impact of poorly manufactured equipment on the workers to influence change in production processes. 

Raise awareness and gain support from partners, governments and interested parties to support help the workers change their current way of working through investment, training and provision of safety supplies. 

“There are days when you wake up and can’t feel your feet. When that happens, it’s impossible to work because you can’t operate the machine.”

Ayorka

Job role
Textile weaver and co-operative chairwoman

Who is involved

  • International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
  • International Social Security Association (ISSA)
  • Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC)
  • Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW-Africa)
  • Government of Ghana
  • Embassy of Germany
  • Rotary Club
  • Shea butter farmers and textile weavers
  • UK High Commission Ghana
  • IOSH consultants
  • Local IOSH members

Ghana is at a pivotal moment in the development of its textiles and garment sector

International Labour Organization

  1. Risk assessment: July 2023

    Local OSH experts and IOSH members have conducted an impartial risk assessment to assess the current conditions.

  2. Co-operative: March 2024

    • Formed a co-operative, Lana Empire Africa, bringing the women into the formal economy.
    • Lana Empire Africa gained Food and Drug Administration approval for their products, opening new markets with better prices. Shipments are already on the way across Africa and to Europe.

  3. Funding bids: April 2024

    Investors can now see how Lana Empire Africa can supply factory settings and machinery, enabling the co-operative to submit funding applications.

  4. Move to formal economy: September 2024

    The women have transitioned to the formal economy and formed co-operatives. Workers are better protected, as being in the formal economy ensures better working conditions, stronger safety, health and quality standards, better trade infrastructure and procedures. And this means accelerated trade. They are protected by regulatory frameworks, as they are recognised businesses and employment. This promotes job stability, societal welfare, spurs economic growth, and reduces poverty, enhancing the lives of the workers and their communities. 

  5. Work with manufacturers: October 2024

    IOSH and partners are working with the loom and pedal manufacturers to eliminate risk by educating them about the injuries and challenges the women experience.

  6. Property acquisition: November 2024

    The Lana Empire Africa foundation have acquired properties that have been converted into a warehouse for the textile weavers. This means they now have shelter from extreme weather conditions and the risk of carrying the looms has been removed.

A female textile worker in Ghana uses a manual hand machine to weave cloth

Next steps

Keep your eye out for updates. New films documenting progress are coming in 2025.

We welcome your support in helping people stay safe at work. It can change the lives of the most vulnerable workers. Find out more about these projects and the work we are doing.