Primark initiates inspection of Bangla garment factories

Primark is committed to inspecting all factories in Bangladesh producing products for the company as part of the assessment programme.

The structural surveys will assess planning records, including structural drawings where available, and will assess building integrity, evaluate the standard of construction and materials, and check other issues such as the location and loading of heavy machinery.

Primark has commissioned an expert team of structural and civil engineers from specialist engineering and architectural firm Medway Consultancy Services (MCS) to carry out the assessments. Based in Dhaka, MCS was set up by High Point Rendell (HPR), a long-established engineering consultancy.

A Primark spokesperson said:

“We already have an extensive and established fire safety programme, which we have now extended to include these surveys on structural integrity. We believe the Accord on Building and Fire Safety that we recently signed, along with other brands in Geneva, is the way forward to sustainable positive change in Bangladesh.

However, the implementation will take time and we felt that we could not wait. Our work will be absorbed within the implementation framework of the Accord over time.

We want everyone, especially the workers themselves, to be confident that Primark products are produced in safe factories.”

Primark