Statement of Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety on Release of First Round of Inspection Reports
(PRWEB) May 28, 2014 -- The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety recently published detailed inspection reports on more than 27 ready-made garment factories. These factories are among the 508 to-date that have undergone thorough fire, electrical and structural assessments. Inspection reports can be found here.
In the case of every factory, dozens of deficiencies have been identified that the Alliance will now work with factories to address. Common issues include inadequate fire suppression equipment, lack of fire doors and poor electrical wiring. While the majority of buildings are structurally sound, there are some instances in which buildings are overloaded and factories have been urged to take immediate action to reduce the load and reinforce columns. In 5 cases, the Alliance has recommended immediate closure to the Bangladeshi government.
As this work happens, it is important to recognize the impact on the workers who make their living in these factories. Workers are the backbone of the garment industry and should not be the ones to pay the price as necessary improvements are made to make their workplaces safe. As such, workers who are unable to work due to factory closures are being compensated in part by the Alliance’s Worker Support Fund, which is made up of dues from each of the Alliance’s 26 member companies. Nearly 1,000 workers’ salaries have been paid following Alliance-recommended factory closures to-date.
The Alliance has inspected more than 500 of the 630 factories from which its members source, with a commitment to inspect 100% of factories by July 2014. Before they are released, inspection reports are shared with factory management and worker representatives as the Alliance and individual members begin to partner with all factories to drive remediation for each item in the report. Above all, the goal is to ensure that inspection reports are comprehensive and consistent, and done in a way that allows for the process of remediation to continue, while minimizing the impact on factory workers.
In the coming weeks, and as inspections continue, hundreds of reports will be uploaded, along with updated corrective action plans that detail each step being taken to upgrade the factory and improve safety for the workers.
About The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety
The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety was founded by a group of North American apparel companies, retailers and brands who joined together to develop and launch the Bangladesh Worker Safety Initiative, a binding, five-year undertaking that will be transparent, results-oriented, measurable and verifiable with the intent of improving safety in Bangladeshi ready-made garment (RMG) factories. The Alliance provides global apparel companies and retailers the unprecedented opportunity to come together and put forward concrete solutions to issues that impact apparel and retail industries worldwide. More information about the Alliance can be found at http://www.bangladeshworkersafety.org.
Guillermo Meneses, Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, http://bangladeshworkersafety.org/, +1 202-445-1570, [email protected]
Share this article