Seventy seven global brands and retailers have so far signed the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industry, which became effective from September 1. More brands are expected to sign on to the 26-month legally-binding agreement, which came into effect as the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety expired.

The new signatories include H&M, Inditex and Uniqlo, C&A, Marks & Spencer and US brands Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and American Eagle.

By signing the International Accord with UNI Global Union and IndustriALL Global Union, garment brands commit to the health and safety work already undertaken in Bangladesh and to the expansion of country-specific health and safety programmes based on the principles of the 2013 and 2018 Accord agreements.

The new agreement will be implemented through the International Accord Foundation in the Netherlands, according to a press release from UNI Global Union, whose general secretary Christy Hoffman said he looks forward to welcoming more signatories to the International Accord as soon as possible.

The International Accord, which was announced on August 25, comes after months of negotiations between global unions UNI and IndustriALL and brands.

It includes the legally-binding commitments, respect for freedom of association and independent administration and monitoring that led to the success of the Bangladesh Accord, while also expanding the remit to include other countries and an option to advance its scope to include human rights due diligence.

Meanwhile, apparel manufacturers in Bangladesh have refused to accept the International Accord, terming its implementation ‘misleading’. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) recently claimed that no approved organisation, except the Readymade Garment Sustainability Council (RSC), existed in the country's garment industry to oversee workplace safety.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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