Celebrating International Day of Play: Empowering Workers and Their Families Through Our Family-Friendly Factory Program

On this year’s International Day of Play, Anita Lo, General Manager of the Ethical Supply Chain Program (ESCP) shines a light on the importance of worker well-being, child development, and ethical supply chain practices.

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This June 11^th marks the second International Day of Play. We’re proud to celebrate this day and shine a light on the importance of play, well-being, and child development – not just for children, but for the working families who make up the heart of global supply chains. At the Ethical Supply Chain Program (ESCP), we believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment, and every worker deserves the peace of mind that their family is supported.

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That’s why our Family-Friendly Factory (FFF) program is such a vital part of our mission. Since launching the program in 2016, we've partnered with forward-thinking suppliers and global brands to create workplaces that are not only more ethical, but more understanding of how to effectively support their workforce

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Why Play Matters in the World of Work

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We know the benefits of promoting play for society and our economy, especially the principles of learning through play which positively impacts children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and further supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4.

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Play is essential to childhood, it supports emotional growth, fosters creativity, and builds the foundation for lifelong learning. But for the millions of workers in supply chain facilities around the world, access to childcare and safe spaces for their children is far from guaranteed. Many working parents all over the world face making difficult choices between earning a livelihood and ensuring their children are safe during working hours.

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In 2016, some of our factory members shared with us issues they were facing. These issues included high turnover rates, lower retention rates and staff shortages during their peak production season in summer. We learned that many workers, although happy with their positions, needed to leave their jobs to return to care for their children in their hometowns during the school summer holidays.

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Through further research, we uncovered that childcare was the no.1 reason why workers were leaving their jobs – we knew we needed to develop a long-term solution that would make a real difference to not only our factory community but workforces and their care network.

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We developed our Family-Friendly Factory program which offers practical solutions that benefit workers, their families, and their employers.

What is a Family-Friendly Factory?

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The Family-Friendly Factory program helps factories create child-friendly, worker-focused policies that support employee well-being. From on-site childcare to breastfeeding rooms, parenting workshops to flexible leave working arrangement policies, these initiatives are making a measurable difference.

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Key achievements to date:

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• Over 30,000 workers benefitted
• Significant reductions in absenteeism and turnover
• Improved worker satisfaction, loyalty, and retention
• Tangible improvements in child welfare and safety
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The Family-Friendly Factory program supports the care economy and local communities in which these businesses operate. The successful provision of childcare in one long-standing member factory enabled the lobbying of local government which permitted migrant children to enrol in a local school which was otherwise not possible. In 2024, a worker at a Family-Friendly Factory in China shared with us:

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‍“The factory owner helped us secure a place in the local free public school, significantly reducing our financial burden. There’s also a system that allows dual-income families to request shift adjustments, even if your husband or wife works at another company; this means that one of us is always present with our child in the evenings. I’m hoping to work here for a long time and be part of the factory's continued success.”

– Feedback from a worker at a Family-Friendly Factory in China

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Partnering for success

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What began as a small pilot at two factories in China in 2016 has grown into an indispensable program that delivers transformative change. Following its biggest year in 2024 – when 73 factories participated benefitting over 10,000 workers and 8,000 children  – the program went from strength to strength into 2025, all made possible with the continued support of our primary funder the LEGO Group, and others including Spin Master.

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“The LEGO Group is proud to support the ESCP Family-Friendly Factory Program, and we are pleased to see its positive impact reach more families in 2024. By adopting family-friendly workplace policies, companies not only elevate employee morale and reduce turnover, but also enhance productivity. This creates a win-win scenario that fosters a more engaged workforce, ultimately benefiting businesses and enriching communities.”

- Marie Enemark Olsen, Senior Director, Reporting & Responsible Sourcing, the LEGO Group

How Suppliers Can Get Involved

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The Family-Friendly Factory program isn’t just a corporate social responsibility initiative - it’s a strategic business decision. Suppliers that adopt Family-Friendly Factory principles gain:

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• A more stable, satisfied workforce
• Improved reputation with government, communities and global buyers
• Increased visibility through programs like ESCP
• Stronger compliance performance in audits and assessments

On this International Day of Play, we invite companies to consider how a family-friendly workplace can transform not just individual lives, but entire communities.

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Join the Movement

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Let’s celebrate play, family, and the power of ethical partnerships– today and every day.

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“At ESCP, we’re proud to partner with suppliers and brands who understand that ethical supply chains start with people - and that supporting families is key to building a better future for everyone.”

– Carmel Giblin, President & CEO, Ethical Supply Chain Program

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If you're interested in learning more about the Family-Friendly Factory program or implementing family-supportive policies at your facility, get in touch today – anita.lo@ethicalsupplychain.org