100 global apparel brands join Bangladesh safety accord

Woolworths Australia, GEBRA, Wünsche Group of Germany, became the latest brands to sign the Accord, which aims to make the garment industry safe and sustainable for years to come.

The signatory brands have committed to making the changes garment workers need to improve factory safety. The Accord, a broad coalition of industry-leading brands with IndustriALL Global Union and UNI, covers more than 1,600 factories and over 2 million workers in Bangladesh.

IndustriALL General Secretary Jyrki Raina said, “This milestone comes as the world’s attention focuses once again on Bangladesh. Next week IndustriALL and UNI will mark the six month anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy. The strength of the Accord is growing and we, and all brand signatories, are committed to improving safety in Bangladesh’s factories.”

All companies serious about conditions in their supply chain are joining this broad alliance to change the game for factory safety in Bangladesh.

UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings added, “We are delighted to reach this landmark figure. With this support we can make a difference on the ground. We are sending a strong message to all the companies that stand outside of the Accord: sign up and get engaged.”

The news came as a team from IndustriALL and UNI arrived in Bangladesh to prepare for the next phase of the implementation of the Accord. High-level talks involving unions, brands, government and employers will coincide with a week of action on safety and working conditions ahead of the six month anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse on 24th October.

Various public demonstrations are planned including by those yet to find and identify the bodies of loved-ones lost at Rana Plaza. Another will see families calling for a fair compensation settlement as compensation negotiations continue on the international level, chaired by the ILO, convened by IndustriALL and supported by UNI.

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IndustriALL