Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The global buyers and retailers have announced to cut business relations with six more apparel factories in Bangladesh taking the total number to 151.
The factories have failed to make required progress in remediation for ensuring workplace safety in line the international standards.
The factories are: Mithun Knitting and Dyeing, Intercare Ltd and Goldmart Apparels (Pvt) Ltd in Chittagong and Fair Cotton (pvt) Ltd, Authentic Knit Wear Ltd and Time Knitwear (Pvt) Ltd at Naranyanganj.
The five factories were inspected for fire, electrical and structural safety by the Accord in 2014 and the factory owner continued to fail to implement the remediation process, Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, the platform of European Union (EU) brands and retailers, said in its separate statements on Monday.
With the six, the total number of readymade garment (RMG) factories with which EU buyers cut business relations in different times on workplace safety grounds reached to 47.
Despite notice and warning process and numerous efforts by the Accord staff and Accord signatories, the factory owners continued to fail to cooperate and implement the corrective action plans approved by the Accord, according to the buyers’ platform.
The Accord urged its signatory companies, who were using the factories, to terminate business relations with the five suppliers and all factories they operate.
On the other hand, Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, formed by North American retailers, has so far cut business relations with 104 supplier factories due to failure to make required progress in remediation.
After the Rana Plaza building collapse, which killed more than 1,100 people, mostly garment workers, in April 2013, European retailers formed the Accord while North American retailers formed Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety undertaking a five-year plan which set timelines and accountability for safety inspections and training and workers’ empowerment programmes.
The Accord has so far conducted initial inspections at 1600 factories while Alliance inspected 759 factories in Bangladesh.
BBN/SSR/AD