The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety – a platform of North American buyers – has announced that another six garment factories, which supply products for its signatory brands, have completed corrective action plans. So far the number of companies stands at 68. In addition, Alliance has dropped seven new factories from its compliant list, bringing the total number of factories suspended to 134.

Alliance is a grouping of 26 North American apparel companies, buyers and retailers. Alliance also continues to uphold accountability measures for factories that fail to prioritise remediation. Alliance performs independent inspections on structural, electrical and fire safety of all factories from which its members source their products. Based on the findings of inspection, it prescribes corrective action plans for factories to declare them compliant.

The issue of safety came under the spotlight following the factory collapse at Rana Plaza that killed over 1,135 people and injured over 2,500 workers. The incident raised question about workers’ safety and safety in workplaces. In the face of huge pressure from rights group and global trade unions from home and abroad, global retailers formed Alliance and Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh to improve safety standards in the readymade garment sector.