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Some 88 per cent of Alliance-listed garment factories have so far completed all required remediation prescribed in the corrective action plans (CAPs).
“As of Thursday, 322 Alliance affiliated factories have completed all material components in their CAPs and are considered substantially remediated. 88 per cent of factory remediation is complete across all active factories,” Alliance executive director Jim Moriarty said.
About 666 active factories are listed with Alliance.
He was speaking at a press conference held in a Dhaka city hotel to update the progress on the ongoing factory remediation and safety training at its listed readymade garment industries in the country.
After the Rana Plaza building collapse, two separate platforms of western retailers have been formed to improve the workplace safety in the country’s readymade garment sector.
Of those, one is Accord with more than 200 apparel brands, retailers and trade unions mostly based in European Union and the other is Alliance, a group of 29 apparel companies and buyers mostly based in North America.
A total of 290 factories have required structural retrofitting and 264 factories—91per cent—completed installation, Mr Moriarty said, explaining a total of 118 factories, out of 141 that needed to install sprinkler systems, have also done it.
Nearly all factories have now upgraded their outdated electrical systems and installed fire doors that provide an escape route for workers and help stop a flame from spreading, he noted.
“All of these advancements aren’t just good for the safety and well-being of workers, they are good for business,” Mr Moriarty said, adding that upgraded factories can help keep Bangladesh on the map globally as a trusted supplier and will protect against accidents that can destroy lives, property an products and exact a huge human and financial toll.