H&M has 32 supplier factories in Bangladesh. But many of these lack safe fire exits. The Swedish fast fashion retailer is facing growing criticism for worker rights abuses in its supply chains. Among the steps it has to take are removal of locks from fire exits, removal of sliding doors and collapsible gates, and installation of fire-rated doors and enclosures in stairwells.

There was a huge fire at an H&M supplier, Matrix Sweaters, in February. There were just a few injuries, largely due to the fact that most workers had yet to arrive for their shift. It was later revealed the factory had missed dozens of deadlines to eliminate fire hazards and make the structure safe.

In reply H&M launched a series of events styled Conscious Exclusive Collection at the Louvre in Paris to promote itself as a sustainable company. H&M would launch a video featuring the pop star Mia to promote the company’s World Recycle Week on April 18 to 24, the same week that labor rights activists will commemorate the 1,134 workers killed in the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013. That devastating garment industry disaster prompted a series of initiatives to promote the industry.

But workers’ rights advocates have called on H&M to prove its commitments through action rather than symbolic gestures.

https://www.hm.com/in/