Known as witness signatories, the non-governmental organization signatories to the Bangladesh Accord – Clean Clothes Campaign, Worker Rights Consortium, Maquila Solidarity Network, and Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum – have welcomed the signing of the new international safety agreement. The new agreement maintains the vital elements of ground-breaking model established by the Bangladesh Accord: legal enforceability of brands’ commitments, independent oversight of brand compliance, the obligation to pay prices to suppliers sufficient to support safe workplaces, and the obligation to cease doing business with any factory that refuses to operate safely. The successful outcome of negotiations this summer will ensure that the sweeping safety gains the Accord has delivered in Bangladesh will be maintained and extended.

The new agreement will continue the progress on fire and building safety achieved in Bangladesh over the past eight years besides expanding the program to other countries. Every responsible apparel and textile brand is expected sign this new agreement.

Ineke Zeldenrust, International Coordinator, Clean Clothes Campaign, believes, the agreement will begin the long-awaited expansion of this model that holds brands legally accountable to other countries where workers’ lives continue to be at risk.

Scott Nova, Executive Director, Worker Rights Consortium adds, the Accord will end the atrocities committed by world’s leading apparel brands on hundreds of garment workers in Bangladesh.