Global support for Bangladesh safety surpasses one million

May 10, 2013

Global support for Bangladesh safety surpasses one million

Labour rights groups push brands to sign agreement before deadline of May 15

TORONTO – Over one millionpeople have signed petitions calling for brands sourcing from Bangladesh to sign the Accord on Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety before a deadline of Wednesday, May 15.

“Consumers around the world have sent a clear message to international brands sourcing from Bangladesh, such as Joe Fresh (Loblaw), Mango, Primark, GAP, C&A, KIK, Benetton and Walmart,”says Lynda Yanz, Executive Director of the Toronto-based Maquila Solidarity Network, “Consumers are calling on the brandsto take immediate action to implement sustainable safety measures in their supplier factories in order to prevent another tragedy such as Rana Plaza.”

Signatures to the petitions have been collected by a coalition of trade unions and labour rights organizations around the world, all calling on international brands to sign the Accord on Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety by May 15, 2013. The Accord provides for independent building inspections, health and safety training, public reports on factory conditions, the right of workers to file complaints and refuse dangerous work, and a long-overdue review of safety standards.

According to Yanz, the program is supported by all key trade union and labour rights groups in Bangladesh and internationally.“With the death toll of the Rana Plaza collapse topping 1,000, and in the wake of yet another fire on May 8, which claimed eight lives, it is more important than ever that brands sign on immediately,” says Yanz.

The global campaign brings togetherthe Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union, International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN), War on Want, People and Planet and petition sites SumOfUs, Change.org, Avaaz and Causes.

Since 2005, more than 1,700 garmentworkers have died in Bangladesh due to unsafe buildings. The recent tragedies highlight, once again, the need for urgent action and the failure of corporate social auditing schemes. Two of the factories in the Rana Plaza building had been audited by the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), and many of the other brands have auditing schemes in place – yet all failed to identify the illegal building construction and safety practices.

“Brands cannot ignore this massive global support for safe working conditions,” says Tessel Pauli of the CCC.“We have been pushing for binding and independent safety measures for too many years now. It is time to stop the killings. There is a global public outcry and brands need to seize the initiative now before there any more deaths. The Accord has the potential to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of workers who are currently at risk.”

Says Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union: “The Accord on Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety is the only credible program that brands can sign. The requirements of this program are straightforward, commonsense measures which will have a vital impact on worker safety in factories in Bangladesh. It is now time for all other brands to commit to sustainable safety in Bangladesh.”

Says Philip Jennings, General Secretary of UNI Global Union: “The Accord is a call for justice and provides a sustainable solution to factory safety which cannot now be ignored. These global retailers must change their behaviour. We have seen the terrible consequences in Bangladesh of the business as usual mentality. Companies must sign up and show they are finally willing to take on their responsibilities to these factory workers who are ultimately part of their global workforce.”
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