Advancing Labor Rights in the Garment Industry
Limited submission
This grant supports garment workers in partner countries to understand, exercise, and protect their labor rights, improve workplace conditions, and strengthen labor standards under existing trade agreements.
Funder: Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
Due Dates: August 27, 2026 (full application deadline, 11:59 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: $986,500 total; one award; 24-month project period; no cost share required
Summary: Supports projects to strengthen labor rights protections and reforms for garment workers in countries with Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs) with the U.S.
Key Information: Only one proposal per applicant organization; for-profit entities cannot earn profit from award.
Description
This funding opportunity from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) aims to advance labor rights in the garment industry, specifically in countries that have signed Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs) with the United States (excluding Bangladesh). The program’s goal is to support garment workers in understanding and exercising their labor rights, freely associating, and accessing timely, non-retaliatory remedies for workplace abuses. Activities may include worker training, legal and technical assistance, documentation of labor rights violations, advocacy, and multi-stakeholder engagement to improve compliance with labor standards and working conditions. The program emphasizes strengthening the implementation of labor provisions in trade agreements and supporting labor rights reforms aligned with U.S. economic and strategic interests.
