2nd Anniversary of Rana Plaza Death of Garment Workers

2nd Anniversary of Rana Plaza Death of Garment Workers

The 24th of April marks the second anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh.

The death of the 1,139 garment workers is the largest recorded loss of life in the global garment industry.

The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia (TCUFA) is commemorating the anniversary with vigils in Melbourne and Sydney and demands for fashion brands to take responsibility.

National Secretary of the TCFUA Michele O’Neil said, “This is the time to remember that the world of fashion has a deadly and dangerous hidden side.

Today we call on the Just Group and Best & Less to pay their respect to those lost lives by signing the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord. It’s time they joined the 10 Australian and 200 global brands in being part of a legally enforceable safety solution. Two years is two years too long to avoid responsibility for your supply chain.”

The Just Group are makers of Just Jeans, Portmans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Dotti, Peter Alexander andSquiggle. Best & Less operate over 200 stores in Australia.

The union also slammed global brands linked to the disaster, Benneton and Mango, for failing to adequately pay into the compensation fund for Rana Plaza Workers.

So far, US$21.5 million has been paid into the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund, however there is an US$8.5 million gap in what’s needed.

Ms O’Neil said “Benneton and Mango clothes were found amidst the bodies of workers in the rubble of Rana Plaza. Both have made only very small token contributions to the fund.

It’s time they paid up – the families of dead and injured workers should not have to wait another minute for compensation. The clock is ticking.”

ENDS

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