Apple has announced the launch of a $50 million fund to expand access to learning opportunities and skills development for people across its supply chain.

Through the Supplier Employee Development Fund, Apple will partner with the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and education experts to make trainings and coursework—such as leadership development, technical certifications, and classes on coding, robotics, and advanced manufacturing fundamentals—available to supplier employees around the world. Programming will initially be available to individuals in the United States, China, India, and Vietnam. In addition, the fund will include a partnership with the ILO to advance fundamental labor rights in electronics supply chains, an initiative to scale a digital worker rights training program across Apple’s supply chain, expanding work with the IOM to scale the Responsible Recruitment Toolkit, and developing communications platforms and driving awareness of existing independent worker hotlines for supplier employees to share feedback or concerns about their workplace.

According to Apple, the company has offered in-person and virtual education, skill-building, and enrichment courses since 2008, providing opportunities for supplier employees to gain new technical and leadership skills. With the launch of the Supplier Employee Development Fund, Apple is expanding the scope of those offerings, with new educational resources for people in its supply chain—and the surrounding communities—to develop the skills necessary for current and future jobs.

“At IOM, we understand that supply chain responsibility is complex and must be driven by innovation, results, and partnerships,” said Amy Pope, IOM’s deputy director general for management and reform. “Improving people’s lives must be at its core. The IOM and Apple partnership has proven results in Apple’s own supply chain and paves the way for others in the industry to follow. To effect real change, we need global collaboration that engages workers, NGOs, government, and industry. Apple’s new commitments will have tangible, meaningful benefits for workers around the world.”

(Photo credit: Apple)