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19 April 2021 Never again Rana Plaza: Only a binding law can protect people along the supply chain

This week marks the eighth anniversary of the worst factory accident in the history of the textile industry, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. On 24 April 2013, 1135 textile workers were killed and over 2438 injured. Many workers still suffer from the consequences of their injuries and were unable to find work due to their disabilities. The compensation paid to victims and survivors is disproportionate to the suffering that people have experienced.

In response to the catastrophic accident, the ACCORD was launched a short time later - a legally binding agreement for increased building safety (statics, electrics and fire protection). From then on, safety inspections were carried out in factories and establishments were closed that could not meet the specified requirements. The agreement ensured a review of more than 1600 textile factories and improved the occupational safety of two million workers.

In 2020, the newly founded state institution RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) took over the tasks of the ACCORD office. However, as the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) noted in an analysis of the RSC, the new institution falls behind ACCORD standards. Trade unions are in the minority in the new decision-making body, while civil society actors (such as the CCC) have been completely stripped of the observer status granted in the original ACCORD.

In view of these negative developments and further disturbing news of regressions in labour rights, as reported from India, regulation of fashion companies' due diligence obligations seems more important than ever. Since February it is clear: A German supply chain law will and must come to oblige companies to respect human rights and environmental standards. However, the draft originally drafted by Ministers Gerd Müller and Hubertus Heil was heavily diluted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which gave in to the pressure of the economy. The current draft does not include civil liability, which would give victims and survivors of disasters such as the factory collapse of Rana Plaza a legal basis to bring an action before German courts. In addition, the draft law currently covers only the first stage of production (Tier 1), but serious human rights violations also occur in previous stages, such as spinning mills and finishing plants.

On 22 and 23 April 2021, the draft is to be submitted to the Bundestag for first reading. The Supply Chain Act initiative has launched the Supply Chain Letter action. With just a few clicks, you can call on members of your own constituency to advocate for a strong supply chain law.