Since 2005 at least 1,800 workers’ lives have been lost due to an overwhelming disregard for fire and safety.
Adding to a tragic recent history of disasters in Bangladesh’s factories, the Rana Plaza collapse in April 2013 followed on from the Tazreen factory fire, in which at least 112 workers perished.
The Tazreen factory owner remains free to trade, without conviction despite admitting responsibility of locking the factory doors as “standard procedure” to prevent theft from the garment factory.
The eight-storey Rana Plaza, which collapsed on the April 24 in the suburb of Dhaka, was best known for its primary use as a garment factory. A
Sparking global outrage and protests, the collapse exposed a series of fire safety and health issues surrounding the garment industry. Many Bangladeshi factory owners were left with no choice but to close as their workers took to the streets in protest. With a tarnished reputation, the Bangladeshi government and the trade group Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association stepped up and pledged to compensate the injured workers and family members of the deceased. This pledge has not lived up to its promise. The tragedy only worsens as
Bangladesh is home to one of the largest garment industries in the world. Many Western retailers clothes are produced in the Rana Plaza. Low wages and light regulation have been an attractive proposition for many of these retailers, but since the Rana Plaza disaster international pressure has been at an all-time high to improve working conditions and safety. The question of blame is always popular in the aftermath of a disaster, but the question of who takes responsibility and how is a lot more difficult.
Two weeks after the Rana Plaza Disaster, Rob Ratcliff lent his view that Western retailers “should actively push for and ensure that fire safety and other standards are achieved.” This view was shared amongst by many, and soon after the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was written by Bangladeshi and international unions.
Led by IndustriALL and UNI trade unions,
A long list of promises, but how is it funded? The plan rests on the condition that signatories to the accord will contribute an equitable share towards the funding required. There are now 91 clothing brands and retailers as signatories to the accord, including well-known brands such as Primark, H&M, and Tesco. It has been noted that the accord consists of mainly European retailers and only a few US retailers.
With a global response to taking responsibility by signing up to the accord, 17 US retailers took their own stance by setting up another group, the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.
Led by Walmart and Gap,
Despite this confidently positive statement, The alliance faced immediate criticism from a range of experts and the unions representing the accord, with the IndustriALL Global Union’s general secretary Jyrki Raina
Unlike the accord, the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety is:
Some of the key implementation measures include:
Which initiative do you think will lead to long-lasting sustainability and fire safety in Bangladesh factories?
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1800, that’s incredible. It is good to know that these retailers are doing something about these terrible figures and not just taking advantage of cheap operating costs.
Leora, thanks for putting this article together, it’s really interesting, and a topic close to my heart. I really do feel that Western retailers need to take responsibility for where their clothes are sourced, as do consumers, who should say ‘If you can’t guarantee the safety of the workers who produced these clothes, I’m not buying.’ Unfortunately, that’s not really how consumerism works.
I do also feel that it is beyond disappointing that factory owners are getting away with this. Anyone who has managed a building that resulted in deaths should surely be on charges of corporate manslaughter?
I agree Rob, I can only imagine the panic that had to run through that building as people ran into those locked doors. A decision was made to forgo safety in favor of maintaining profits and loss prevention, that decision should cost anyone who supported it. I am not looking to defend anyone here but it how could a retailer really have known completely what was going on here? How much control can you expect to have of a supplier and how can you take the things they tell you at face value? Until an incident occurs I may not… Read more »
It can become a badge of honour and actually be used as a marketing tool, lots of companies will state they are fair trade, don’t use sweat shops etc. the more companies that take a stand against terrible (in this case fatally so) conditions, the more awareness it raises amongst the consumer and other manufacturers etc, though, maybe I’m naive ( as Rob said, consumerism doesn’t always work like this/ care…..
What bothers me is that those losses are probably so tiny it would make you sick to see how little they were saving by locking those doors. It’s not as if someone was going to move tens of thousands of dollars worth of clothing out the back door. Then if you look at the cost of the raw materials and not the retail value it would be even lower. I’d guess that at most they saved a couple dollars a day in raw materials.
It’s an encouraging development but then with the right publicity the retailers have nowhere to hide on this one. I really like the idea of worker led safety committees- if they become fully aware of their rights to basic life safety in a place of work they could make some sweeping and rapid changes through sheer force of numbers. Keep up the momentum comrades!!
Well, we’ve seen plenty of protests from workers, but what is needed is a stronger force when it comes to lobbying and unions. What the workers of Bangladesh need to do is use the (rightful) anger more effectively for change.
The question people have to ask is how much is a life worth? Sadly, that seems like the answer has been much lower than the reality. I’m glad to see retailers recognising that lives should not be lost for us to get this seasons new jumper
The question people have to ask is how much is a life worth? Sadly, that seems like the answer has been much lower than the reality. I’m glad to see retailers recognising that lives should not be lost for us to get this seasons new jumper
There’s an education issue here too though. People might not understand WHY they shouldn’t lock these doors, because no one has taught them about fire safety and how it works. For safety isn’t just about technology, it’s a mindset that by in large isn’t doesn’t exist in developing nations.
Ethically and safely sourced goods, I’d buy into that.
What you said is spot-on, Rob. The workers need someone to help them organize protests so that changes will actually made to these policies. Otherwise, it will all be for naught.
Ethically and safely sourced goods, I’d buy into that.
Well-said. Same here!
You’re right, Rob. Basically it all boils down to that one question: how much is a life worth? Unfortunately, to some, they don’t care enough to make sure that each and every one matters. I hope things certainly change in this regard soon.
What’s the press like in bangladesh. Is it a free press (if there is such a thing?) I wonder? Because that would help pressure the Government.
@ IT_HazelYou are very right those we care about do not care much about their live. We will witness same thing happening again and again