The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a coalition representing 20 North American apparel companies, retailers and brands has unveiled its draft standards, focusing on key areas of concern including fire and building safety for the apparel industry.The Alliance published the draft fire and building safety standards as a part of a collective effort by the stakeholders to ensure a common set of safety measures for Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector.These standards have been developed by a small group of professionals who have personal experience in the assessment of over 100 Bangladeshi factories for fire safety and structural integrity, the draft said adding this group has solicited input from a number of sources, including other Alliance retailers, who have been dealing with the same concerns as well as some professionals in the Bangladeshi factory design and management community.
The draft Alliance Standards were created in conjunction with fire and building safety experts, and developed with a commitment to align with the Bangladesh National Building Code, and is in support of the National Tripartite Plan of Action. "These draft standards are exclusively focused on the technical aspects of fire and building safety. The Alliance continues to advance its mission to improve safety for Bangladesh garment workers through separate, but closely related, work streams focused on worker empowerment and worker training," Rosanna Maietta of the Alliance told media.
The Alliance said in the spirit of transparency and collaboration, "We shared these standards with the ILO, the Accord, BGMEA, BUET and the Bangladeshi Ministry of Labour and Employment in advance of the meeting held on September 7."
