Monday 8th July, 2013

Swiss based trade unions, IndustriALL and UNI Global Union have coordinated an agreement and pledged allegiance to a new, legally binding legislation to conduct safety inspections at factories in Bangladesh. The move comes after the Rana Plaza disaster in which more than 1,000 workers lost their lives as the eight storey garment factory where they were working collapsed. Retail giants such as M&S, Tesco, Primark, Abercrombie & Fitch, Carrefour and Metro have all signed up to the pact. Last month Tesco ceased trading with a Bangladeshi partner due to concerns about safety.

The biggest buyer of clothing manufactured in Bangladesh, H&M have also agreed to the deal and will be providing details of their suppliers - all of which will be inspected during the course of the next nine months. The agreement outlines minimum fire and safety standards which need to be in place at all the factories which supply clothing to all those retailers signed up to the pact, and to make any necessary improvements.

Meanwhile Walmart and Gap have so far refused to sign the deal.