Levi’s Strauss has signed the International Accord, a legally binding agreement for garment worker safety, following years of pressure from unions and advocacy groups like the Clean Clothes Campaign. The decision comes after a deadly explosion at Levi’s supplier factory, Combined Fabrics, in Pakistan, which killed one worker and injured four others.

The Accord was established after the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, ensuring safety inspections and hazard remediation in factories. Levi’s participation marks a significant step in protecting workers in Pakistan, a country with a notoriously unsafe garment sector. The International Accord expanded to Pakistan in 2023, with further country programmes expected.

Levi’s had long resisted joining the Accord, opting instead for the Nirapon initiative in Bangladesh, which lacked binding commitments and strong union involvement. However, persistent campaigning by unions, including Workers United and Clean Clothes Campaign, highlighted the brand’s inadequate safety monitoring. A petition signed by nearly 70,000 people and years of protests finally pushed Levi’s to sign the Accord.

Zehra Khan of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation in Pakistan expressed relief that Levi’s took responsibility but mourned the lives lost while the company delayed action. The Clean Clothes Campaign now urges Levi’s to extend the Accord to Bangladesh and calls on other major brands like Nike and Amazon to join the safety agreement for Pakistani workers.

The International Accord includes provisions for inspections, remediation, worker training, and a complaint mechanism, ensuring that Levi’s supplier factories in Pakistan will now meet safety standards, while safeguarding workers' rights to voice concerns without fear of retaliation.