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The TUC has welcomed a statement signed by international development minister Alan Duncan, along with ministers from six other European countries, urging retailers to donate to the Rana Plaza fund – set up for victims of the fatal factory collapse in Bangladesh last April.

The TUC has welcomed a statement signed by international development minister Alan Duncan, along with ministers from six other European countries, urging retailers to donate to the Rana Plaza fund – set up for victims of the fatal factory collapse in Bangladesh last April.

The statement – issued at the Forum on Responsible Business at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – expresses concern that some companies either haven’t contributed at all or haven’t given enough to the fund.

More than one year on from the Rana Plaza collapse, just £11m has been raised for the fund – less than half the £24m needed to pay compensation to the victims. Many of the UK high street stores who sold clothes made at the factory still haven’t contributed, says the TUC.

The TUC believes it’s the responsibility of every company sourcing high-street fashion from Bangladesh to donate an appropriate sum so that the surviving workers and the families of those who died can start to rebuild their lives.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “More than 12 months on from the tragedy it’s disgraceful that stores who sourced clothes from the factory still haven’t paid a penny into the fund, while others have donated only a minimal amount.

“Millions of pounds more are needed so that victims of the collapse and their families can start to get on with their lives.

“It’s encouraging to see governments from across Europe joining unions and other campaigners to put pressure on those companies who still seem reluctant to contribute to the Rana Plaza fund.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
- One year ago almost 1,200 workers, most of them young women, lost their lives when the Rana Plaza factory collapsed in the Savar district of Bangladesh.
- The Rana Plaza Trust Fund is a no-fault fund administered by the International Labour Organisation. Any can company can contribute to the fund, whether or not they sourced clothes from Rana Plaza.
- The ministers’ statement is available at http://oeso.nlvertegenwoordiging.org/nieuws/2014/juni-2014/final-statem… It has been signed by international development ministers from the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain.
- The TUC has given £16,000 to the Rana Plaza Trust Fund through its development arm TUC Aid. A full list of donors is available at www.ranaplaza-arrangement.org/fund/donors
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews
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Contacts:
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