One of the most painful events in the history of Bangladesh’s textile sector was the Rana Plaza factory fire in 2013, in which more than 1,100 people died. After that, more than 200 international fashion companies signed an agreement to make the workplace safe. After heavy and strict inspections, they canceled orders from 200 factories that showed poor compliance. The contract was over in August 2021.
H&M, Inditex, and 75 other companies have signed a new contract to make the workers safe. The new agreement, managed by the Ready-Made Garments Sustainability Council (RSC), is valid until October 2023. Companies are signing up to expand general health and safety for workers beyond fire and building safety, human rights due diligence along supply chains, and making the same commitment to garment workers in at least one other country. Signatories have agreed to meet in six months to discuss which countries to make changes within two years.
Bangladesh has the third-largest garment industry after China and Vietnam. In 2019 it was estimated there were about 4,000 factories and 4 million workers, and the industry represented 16% of the country’s GDP, with $34bn worth of exports. The safety of the workers has been the priority of world-leading brands. The textile sector of the country has well praised the signatories and the agreement.
Valter Sanches, the general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, said: “This international accord is an important victory towards making the textile and garment industry safe and sustainable.”
