The tragedy of Rana Plaza collapse has improved the world’s emphasis on the appalling conditions endured by garment workers in Bangladesh and elsewhere, and put public pressure on western brands to do more to ensure safety and labour rights in their supply chains.

It led to the inception of Accord on Fire and building safety in Bangladesh, an independent, legally binding agreement between brands and trade unions to protect workers. The Accord has 222 signatory companies and is estimated to cover two million workers it has covered 1,600 factories, 767 of which have mostly completed safety remediation.

The agreement also gives greater legal power to workers to ensure brands are protecting them. Earlier this year, the Accord was used by garment worker unions to reach a landmark $2.3m settlement with a multinational apparel brand accused of delays in remedying life-threatening hazards at its factories. As per a Oxfam report an alliance of 13 well-known Australian brands are dragging their feet.

Just Group, Just Jeans, Peter Alexander, Fast Future, incorporating Valley Girl and Temta are among the businesses that did not sign the last Accord and are yet to sign the 2018 Accord. Oxfam Australia chief executive, Helen Szoke, advised the companies to live up to their responsibilities to workers. She stated signing the Accord is about safeguarding the absolute basics in the rights of more than two million garment workers and 70 per cent of whom are women in Bangladesh. She is expecting all suppliers to follow to the ethical sourcing policy to make sure ethical, safe and lawful manufacture and supply of merchandise.