14 more brands sign safety accord

Fourteen more fashion companies have signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety

in Bangladesh, thus raising the total number of participating retailers and brands to 33.

“For the multinational retailers like Tesco who source form Bangladesh, we must help it to change in a positive way, a way which sustains and improves the livelihoods of all those who work in the industry,” said Tesco’s group commercial director Kevin Grace about signing the accord. Though Tesco did not commission any of the five textile factories housed at Rana Plaza, the building that collapsed on 24th April, killing more than 1,100 workers, it wants to help prevent a similar tragedy.

Other British companies that signed the agreement on or before the deadline of 15th May are Mothercare, New Look, Next and Sainsbury’s. International brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Esprit, Hema, JBC, Lidl, Loblaws, the Otto Group, Rewe, Switcher and the WE Group are also supporting the accord.

"We have a proven track record in Bangladesh — we believe our approach works and all our suppliers must adhere to our strict ethical standards as a condition of working with us. This includes regular fire, health and safety checks and we only source from single occupancy factories. But we also recognise the need for a safer garment industry in Bangladesh and have signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety. We will play our role alongside the ILO, other clothing brands and NGOs in developing it into an effective programme to deliver a better working environment across all 5,000 garment factories in Bangladesh," confirmed Krishan Hundal, director of sourcing, Marks & Spencer’s commitment.

More than 1,000 factories in Bangladesh are now part of the fire and building safety plan whose implementation is supposed to begin sooner rather than later. Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, commended the participating companies for their commitment and emphasized that it wasn’t too later for other fashion brands to do the same.

"The companies who signed up are to be applauded. We will not close the door on brands who want to join the accord after the deadline, but we will be forging ahead with the implementation plan. Those who want to join later will not be in a position to influence decisions already made. The train moves on and these companies will drive the process – there can be no uncommitted passengers because the stakes are too high. We are talking improving the working conditions and lives of some of the most exploited workers in the world, earning 38 dollars a month in dangerous conditions,” confirmed Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.

The invitation stands for big buyers like Walmart and Gap Inc. that so far held off on signing the accord, relying on internal checks instead. Smaller players like the German NKD, Metro and Ernstings also want to adhere to their own concepts instead of joining the accord.