Wal-Mart Announces Women-Friendly Initiatives

Discount giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced a multibillion-dollar initiative to promote female workers and women-owned businesses as part of an effort to improve its corporate image.

The move came as the nation's largest retailer continues to deal with accusations that it doesn't have an equal workplace. The Bentonville, Ark., company may face individual claims of sex discrimination after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a class-action suit by female workers in June.

On Wednesday, Wal-Mart 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.

"We want women to view us as a retailer that is relevant to them and cares about them," Wal-Mart Chief Executive Mike Duke said in a statement. "We want them to be leading suppliers, managers and loyal customers."

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