Major Fashion Chains Sign-Up to Protect Garment Workers

Zara and H&M are amongst the fashion retailers that have signed up to a groundbreaking agreement to protect workers in Bangladesh.

The agreement focuses on protecting the garment workers safety and is named “International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry.”

There had been fears the agreement’s predecessor The Bangladesh Accord would be renewed.

The Bangladesh Accor was created after the Rana Plaza factory collapse.

The collapse killed 1134 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Pressures from unions and significant campaigning lead to a new agreement.

“The Accord has already shown a proven improvement in Bangladesh in the area of workplace safety, while the new Accord will protect that progress” Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity, told Vogue.

The new agreement is legally binding.

Campaigners in the fashion world say this is crucial to making sure the agreement if followed.

“This is a binding contract between brands and unions that can be upheld in the court of law in case brands do not meet their obligations,” explains Christie Miedema, campaign and outreach coordinator at the Clean Clothes Campaign.