New Deal Announced To Protect Garment Workers In Bangladesh

a new Agreement aimed at protecting workers in Bangladesh garment industry then announced on Wednesday lockdown for months between international fashion retailers and unions and local factory owners.

The new agreement, called the International Health and Safety Agreement in the Textile and Apparel Industry, will enter into force on 1 September. fake in 2013 Following the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory, which killed 1,100 garment workers.

In the original agreement, nearly 200 international brands, including H&M, PVH, and Primark, agreed for the first time on legally binding safety commitments, independent audits of factories, and contributions to safety training and factory improvements.

as are the deal is about to expireand the Bangladeshi fashion industry the fallout of the pandemic, there was widespread contention about what might happen next.

The new deal includes many of the features of the original deal, including the ability to take legal action against retailers if their factories don’t meet safety standards; shared responsibility for governance among suppliers and brands; Safety committee training and monitoring overseen by the Bangladesh-based RMG Sustainability Council and an independent grievance mechanism.

The brands also committed to expanding the new deal beyond Bangladesh to at least one more country. The contract is valid for 26 months.

“We are extremely encouraged by this new agreement, which will preserve the core obligations of the original agreement and hopefully ensure reliability and accountability at a critical time for the Bangladesh apparel industry,” said Christy Hoffman, general secretary of the Swiss UNI Global union. Fundamental federation of trade unions in 150 countries and signatory of agreements.

Swedish retailer H&M was the first brand to confirm signing the new deal, followed by Inditex, with more expected to follow in the coming days. But American retailers like Walmart and Target not expected to attend. The two, along with other American firms, including Gap, He signed the Bangladesh Workers’ Safety Alliance in 2013.it was less restrictive and not legally binding on retailers. It expired in 2018.

Bangladesh has been the world’s second largest garment exporter after China since 2010. World Trade Organization, but lost that ranking to Vietnam last month due to pandemic lockdowns and rising coronavirus cases. The ready-to-wear industry has become the basis of the economy for the country of 166 million.