China WeCare Family-Friendly Workplace Programme Strengthens Family Connections During Summer

Photo: Parents and children enjoying an activity during a factory-organised family day event

As schools close for the summer, many migrant parent workers face increased challenges balancing work and family life. While some are able to spend time with their children, many cannot return home due to work commitments, and others have children living far from where they work. During this period, maintaining meaningful communication becomes especially important for both parents and children.

As part of the WeCare Family-Friendly Workplace Package, The Centre is supporting factories to strengthen family connections through practical initiatives that promote communication, well-being and positive parent-child relationships.

Photo: Parent workers sorting through photos during a PhotoVoice training session. Their final photo selections were compiled into a photo album with captions. Through photography and storytelling, the activity helps parents strengthen their engagement with their children while creating a meaningful keepsake that preserves precious family memories.

In late May, one participating factory launched its first PhotoVoice training with 28 parent workers. The programme equips workers with basic photography and storytelling skills, encouraging them to use their mobile phones to capture meaningful moments from their daily lives and communicate more openly with their children. A second session was held in July, where participants transformed their photos into personal story posters, creating a powerful way to share their experiences and strengthen family bonds. The PhotoVoice approach is designed to help parent workers express emotions and improve communication with their children, while also supporting worker well-being and engagement.

Photo: Parents and children enjoying an activity during a factory-organised family day event

The factory also hosted a Family Day on June 6, bringing together 17 parent workers and 17 children for an afternoon of dancing, games and shared activities. For families who are able to spend time together, these moments provide valuable opportunities to reconnect and create positive memories before many parents return to work.

Together, these activities demonstrate how family-friendly workplaces can support workers not only in the workplace, but also in maintaining strong relationships with their families during times when they need it most.

These activities are part of The Centre for Child Rights and Business' WeCare Family-Friendly Workplace Programme, which Under Armour has supported across its supplier factories since 2021. The programme helps strengthen worker well-being through practical family-friendly workplace initiatives. To date, 29 Under Armour supplier factories across four countries have participated in WeCare.