Toggle high contrast
Issue date
The President of the Bangledeshi National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) has today (Saturday) warned eight leading UK retailers that there could be a repeat of this year's Rana Plaza tragedy if they refuse to sign up to an international accord designed to protect Bangladeshi factory workers.

date: 6 September 2013

embargo: 00:01hrs 7 Saturday September 2013

The President of the Bangledeshi National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) has today (Saturday) warned eight leading UK retailers that there could be a repeat of this year's Rana Plaza tragedy if they refuse to sign up to an international accord designed to protect Bangladeshi factory workers.

Amirul Haque Amin, who is in the UK to speak at the TUC's annual conference this weekend, says several high street names are still refusing to commit to the agreement that will make building inspections compulsory at Bangladeshi factories that supply fashion goods to UK stores.

These brands include Matalan, River Island, Sports Direct/Republic, Jane Norman, Peacocks, Bench, Mexx and Bank Fashion.

The TUC is asking consumers touched by the Dhaka tragedy to use social media to build pressure on the UK clothing brands that are refusing to sign up.

The e-action at http://action.goingtowork.org.uk/bangladeshaccord allows consumers to write directly to the companies and tell them to support strengthening health and safety protection for Bangladeshi textile workers.

The IndustriALL agreement - which has been signed by over 80 international companies including Zara, H&M and Next - commits firms to meeting the cost of making buildings safe, and to working with a monitoring group made up of companies and unions, and chaired by the International Labour Organisation.

In addition, an independent safety inspector will be appointed to oversee all inspections in Bangladesh and to investigate complaints by workers.

In the days leading up to the Rana Plaza factory collapse in April, which claimed over 1,000 lives, staff complaints about large cracks were ignored by managers who ordered the factory stay open.

NGWF president Amirul Haque Amin said: 'I am very disappointed that several leading UK retailers are still refusing to commit to this accord. This historic agreement ensures that thousands of factories will have compulsory building inspections for the first time ever.

'Voluntary initiatives have failed to protect workers in the past and if companies in the UK refuse to sign we risk a repeat of the Rana Plaza tragedy. It is essential that companies take more responsibility for the way in which their suppliers treat their employees.'

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'Rana Plaza was an entirely preventable disaster and leading names on the UK high street must not be allowed to shirk their responsibilities. The health and safety of workers in their overseas supply chains should be their top priority, and not a secondary concern to profits.

'The collapse in Dhaka highlighted once again why we need strong unions and what happens when workers don't have a voice at work.

'It is essential we keep up the pressure on those retailers refusing to sign the accord. Consumers can play a big role by writing to these companies.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Amiral Haque Amir will be addressing TUC delegates at approximately 6.25pm on Sunday evening. He will also be speaking at a TUC fringe meeting on at 12.45pm on Tuesday. Building Safety and Employment Rights in the Bangladesh Textile Industry takes place in the Branksome Suite at the Bournemouth International Centre.

- The IndustriALL global union represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors.

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- The deadline for free media passes for Congress 2013 was Wednesday 28 August. Media credentials can now only be applied for in Bournemouth and will each cost £75.

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

To access the admin area, you will need to setup two-factor authentication (TFA).

Setup now