Bangladesh Accord: 2 assembles 93 signatories including Primark, H&M, Inditex

Washim Mia, Staff Correspondent: The second shift of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh has been the central topic of discussion of the time. Some 93 international retailers and brands including Primark, H&M, Inditex, C&A, Hugo Boss, ESPRIT, Adidas have already renewed their pact with the new version of Bangladesh Accord and the number is not going to be paused there. The brands are aware of the risks of fire and building safety needs to be addressed and eradicated from the Bangladeshi garments factories. 

The brands and retailers signed the new pact of Bangladesh Accord are- A&M Holmberg, Adidas, Aldi North, Aldi South, America Today, American Eagle Outfitters, Auchan, Bel-confect, Benetton, Bestseller, BrandCo Management , C&A, Camaïeu, Carrefour, Casino Global Sourcing, Chicca, Comtex, CoolCat, Coop Danmark, Cotton On, Designworks, Distra, DK Company, El Corte Inglés, E Leclerc, Ernsting’s Family, ESPRIT, Fipo Group, Gina Tricot, G-Star, H&M, HEMA, HKG Garment Solution, Horizonte, Hugo Boss, Hunkemöller, ID Identity, Inditex (incl. Zara), JBC, JOGILO, John Lewis, Julius Hüpeden , KappAhl, Karstadt, KiK, Klaus Herding, Kmart Australia, LC Waikiki, Lidl, Loblaw, LPP, Mainpol, Matalan, Mayoral Moda, Miss Etam, Monoprix, MS Mode, N Brown, New Agenda by Perrin, New Frontier, New Wave Group, OLYMP Bezner, O’Neill, Otto, Peak Performance, Primark, PVH, RAWE Moden, Rewe Group, RNB Retail and Brands, Sandryds, Shoeby, Schmidt Group, s.Oliver, Specialty Fashion Group, Stadium, Star Brands Apparel, Stockmann Group, Suprema, Takko, Tally Weijl, Target Australia, Tchibo, Tesco, Top Grade International, Transmarina Handelsgesellschaft, Van der Erve, Varner, Vetta, VOICE Norge AS, WE Fashion and Wibra Supermarkt.

The first Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was signed on May 15th 2013. It is a five year independent, legally binding agreement between global brands and retailers and trade unions designed to build a safe and healthy Bangladeshi Ready Made Garment (RMG) Industry.

This accord agreement was formed in the immediate aftermath of the Rana Plaza building collapse that led to the death of more than 1100 people and injured more than 2000. In June 2013, an implementation plan was agreed leading to the incorporation of the Bangladesh Accord Foundation in the Netherlands in October 2013. Initially, it was signed by over 200 apparel brands and retailers from over 20 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia; two global trade unions, IndustriALL and UNI Global; and eight Bangladeshi trade unions. Clean Clothes Campaign, Worker Rights Consortium, International Labour Rights Forum and Maquila Solidarity Network are NGO witnesses to the agreement.

The aim of the Accord is to make the RMG sector in Bangladesh safe and sustainable, where no worker needs to fear fires, building collapses or other accidents that could be prevented with reasonable safety and health measures.