Accord has warned of snapping business ties with more than a dozen apparel makers in Bangladesh over their failure to improve safety even after the initial inspection. The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety is a group of European retailers. The move comes following Accord’s follow-up inspection in its listed factories. At the end of November 30, 2014, follow-up inspection reports (fire, electrical and structural) have been sent to 73 factories while the Accord has issued non-compliance letters to 13 factory owners.
Factories that do not cooperate and support remediation requirements can face action from Accord including termination of business relations and public disclosure of the non-compliance on the Accord website.
The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was signed in May 2013. It is a five-year independent, legally binding agreement between global brands and retailers and trade unions designed to build a safe and healthy Bangladeshi readymade garment industry.
It brings together the United Nation’s International Labor Organization, Bangladeshi unions, international unions, the Bangladesh government and garment companies to oversee safety inspections into more than 1600 garment factories in Bangladesh. The assumption is that the company’s own audit programs and safety checks are not enough to ensure long term worker safety in Bangladesh.
bangladeshaccord.org/
