Kmart Nz Can Do Better For Bangladesh Workers

Kmart New Zealand’s refusal to join other big retailers and fashion brands in committing to a new safety accord for Bangladesh clothing workers is very disappointing, FIRST Union said today.

Today is the deadline for signing the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, developed in response to the Rana Plaza building collapse and earlier tragedies.

“If Kmart is not part of the solution on improving the safety of Bangladesh workers, they are part of the problem,” said Robert Reid, General Secretary of FIRST Union, which represents retail and clothing workers in New Zealand.

“Many international retail and fashion companies have a made a commitment to do better for the workers of Bangladesh.”

“If major retail chains and fashion brands like Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger can sign up to the Accord, why can’t Kmart?”

Robert Reid said that although Kmart may have missed the deadline of May 15 to sign on to the Accord, FIRST Union would keep talking to them to try and change their mind.

FIRST Union is a member of both IndustriALL and UNI, the two global union bodies who have developed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.

ENDS

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