Walmart's Global Initiative To Advance Women In Co & Suppliers

In June 2011 the US Supreme Court threw out a class-action suit against Walmart, saying that claims of discrimination by Walmart against women in promotions and lower pay for the same job must be filed in court on an individual basis.

Logic suggests that Walmart’s announcement yesterday of a five-plank, multibillion-dollar initiative to promote female workers and women’owned businesses is part of an effort to improve its corporate image with the women who shop there — and those who don’t.

On Wednesday, Walmart said it had developed five goals, designed to “help empower women across its supply chain,” that it aimed to achieve by the end of 2016. Chief Executive Mike Duke issued a statement saying “We went them (women) to be leading suppliers, managers and loyal customers.”

Walmart promises to source $20 billion from women-owned businesses in the US in the next five years and also double its international sourcing from female suppliers.

The company will offer training, market access and career opportunities to 60,000 women working in factories, to help them “develop the skills they need to become more active decision-makers in their jobs and for their families.”

In specific countries like Brazil Walmart pledged to set country-specific goals to hire female construction workers to help build its stores. A program targeted at women in Sao Paulo was mentioned.

In the area of education, Walmart said it will help 200,000 women from low-income households gain job skills and access higher education; in addition, retail training programs will help 200,000 women internationally.

Targeting professional service firms and merchandise suppliers with more than $1 billion in sales, Walmart will work to increase female and minority representation on Walmart accounts.

Leslie Dach, Wal-Mart’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, said the company had an “incredible opportunity to make a difference on the big challenges facing our world.”

“We do not believe that a company has to choose between being a successful business and a responsible one,” he said.

Support for these initiatives will come from the Walmart Foundation and donations from international businesses. Around the world Walmart employs 2.1 million people, with more than half of its workers women.