After a string of factory tragedies in Bangladesh claimed over 1,000 lives, many global brands sourcing their requirements from the country have put in efforts to improve working conditions in factories. Efforts are also being made to improve and strengthen fire and building safety standards in the apparel industry. As a part of these initiatives, Eric Wiseman, VF Corporation’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer has announced steps that they have taken to make factories safer both as a corporation and as a member of the broader brand and retail initiative the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. These include a hybrid model that combines VF’s own manufacturing practices with those it requires of its contractors.

VF, Walmart Stores, Target Corp and Gap launched an alliance last July in the wake of Bangladesh factory tragedies. After calamity struck the Asian country, there was a huge hue and cry over reforms required to be put in place in the Bangladeshi apparel sector. So, the global fashion industry along with labour organisations and international NGOs have been working towards implementing new safety plans and reforms to provide a safe work environments.

VF in particular, under the company’s ‘Third Way’ program is currently building a factory in Bangladesh that looks and runs like a VF-owned and -operated factory. The factory currently under construction in Bangladesh, to be operated by The Rising Group, is the first in that country to be built under VF’s program. Though the factory would be run by the Rising Group, it would adhere to VF’s manufacturing expertise.

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