24 April 2019 Never again Rana Plaza, more building security Mother who lost her daughter in the collapse of the Rana Plaza building. Photo: © FEMNETBonn. Exactly six years ago, 1,134 seamstresses died in the rubble of a factory building in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. More than 1,800 people were injured. In the ‘Rana Plaza’ building, five textile factories were producing, many for large fashion companies, whose products are also hanging in our wardrobes. After the disaster, the entire fashion industry declared ‘Never again Rana Plaza!’. But what is the situation today? Six years after the terrible catastrophe, repression and poverty wages dominate Bangladesh's garment industry. Progress in making factories safe is under threat. The Bangladesh Building Security Agreement (ACCORD) was signed three months after the Rana Plaza disaster. It is unique because it is enforceable by the signatories and has been concluded between global trade unions – IndustriALL and UNI –, trade unions from Bangladesh and 193 international fashion retailers. The Clean Clothes Campaign was also involved in his graduation. So far, 1,600 factories have been inspected. Of the 100,000 defects identified, 89 percent could be corrected. Over 1.7 million workers took part in security training sessions of the agreement. However, more than 50 percent of the factories still do not have an adequate fire alarm system and 40 percent have not yet completed structural renovations. Bangladesh Building Security Agreement at Risk - Workers' Lives Threatened The Government of Bangladesh and the National Association of Textile Producers BGMEA want to oust the Building Security Agreement (AACORD) from the country and thus prevent further work on the ground. She wants to take over this work herself, the government justifies her action. However, a recent study showed that Bangladesh's government lacks the capacity to continue the work of the agreement at the same level. And most importantly: It does not have the political will to do so. "If the building security agreement has to leave the country, it means we are putting workers at risk again," says Kalpona Akter, labour rights activist for Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS). Our demand: Continuation of the work of the ACCORD! Worst repression in Bangladesh in more than 10 years Expensive or cheap clothing: It is often produced not only at risk of death, but to poverty wages, mostly by women. The wages they receive are often not even enough to pay rent or food. Last year, Bangladeshi workers received an increase in the minimum wage for the first time since Rana Plaza. However, it is still less than a quarter of a living wage. When workers took to the streets in January against this far too low minimum wage increase, the government met them with violence and repression. One worker died and many others were injured. More than 65 workers were arrested, more than 11,600 were dismissed and blacklisted. Our demand: Release of the arrested workers, reinstatement of all dismissed workers! Businesses, the Federal Government and the EU need to take more action In the short term, companies, the German government and the EU must take even more action to demand the continuation of the building security agreement in Bangladesh. The repression against workers must stop. The German Alliance for Sustainable Textiles should once again actively promote these efforts. In the long term, mandatory human rights due diligence by fashion brands and retailers along their supply chains is the order of the day. More enforceable agreements and laws on the human rights responsibility of fashion retailers along their supply chains have to be drawn up, seals and certificates are not enough. For more information: Last week, the US Worker Rights Consortium published a report on the current repression in Bangladesh: “Banning Hope: Bangladesh Garment Workers Seeking a Dollar an Hour Face Mass Firings, Violence, and False Arrests” The four Witness Signatories of the Bangladesh Building Safety and Fire Protection Agreement published a Study on the situation of the Bangladesh Labour Inspectorate and its potential, to take over the work of the Bangladesh Building Security Agreement: More information on Campaign work of the international Clean Clothes Campaign and the US International Labor Rights Forum Contact: Katharina Edinger, FEMNET, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel. +49 175 8465560 Artemisa Ljarja, Clean Clothes Campaign, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel. +49 178 823 30 79 Christie Miedema, Clean Clothes Campaign, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel. +31 6 42060638 or +31-20-4122785 Press release of the campaign for clean clothing from 24.04.2019
