Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- A group of US lawmakers wrote a letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday urging action in response to the November 24 fire incident of Tazreen Fashions Ltd that claimed the lives of 112 workers.
The group, led by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), has also sought Obama's interference in ensuring that clothing coming into the US – particularly products for their military – is made in factories that protect their workforce.
The letter was signed by US senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Al Franken (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Congressman George Miller (D-CA).
“It is unacceptable for products made for members of our military or bearing the symbols of our armed forces, and sold at base exchanges around the world, to be sub-contracted out to factories that do not have the most minimal worker protections,” the MPs said in the letter.
“We urge you to use all the tools at your disposal to ensure that the federal government does not pursue or continue contracts or licensing agreements with prime contractors, sub-contractors, or licensees that fail to guarantee basic and fundamental rights for their workers and throughout their supply chains, including the right to a safe workplace,” it noted.
BBN/SSR/AD-13Dec12-1:20 pm (BST)
