More apparel brands should sign International Accord, says UNI Global Union

UNI Global Union has urged international apparel brands to sign the International Accord as the most effective means to uphold worker safety in the Bangladeshi textile and garment industry and fulfil their supply chain responsibilities in Bangladesh and beyond.

UNI General Secretary, Christy Hoffman, made the call ahead of the ninth anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Savar. Over 1,100 workers were killed and 2,000 more were injured in the tragedy on April 24 in 2013, according to a press statement.

A total of 171 global fashion retailers have so far signed on to the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industry. The legally binding agreement continues and expands the work of the Bangladesh Accord, which was established by UNI and IndustriALL global unions to improve safety in the country’s garment industry after the Rana Plaza tragedy.

Some of the world’s biggest fashion retailers such as H&M and Zara signed on to the International Accord when it took over on 1 September 2021. However, brands such as French multinational retailer, Auchan, have yet to recommit. Other US brands such as Walmart, Disney and GAP, which all source from Bangladesh, as well as major textile buyer, IKEA, are marked in their absence.

UNI General Secretary Christy Hoffman said, “On April 24th we will forever remember those who lost their lives and were injured in the Rana Plaza disaster - and brands must do the same.”

“The International Accord is a model for supply chain accountability in the global garment industry, allowing brands to meet their due diligence commitments and protect millions of workers making their products. If brands are serious about safety, they should sign up to the Accord as the proven mechanism to improve factory conditions, prevent incidents and save lives,” said Christy Hoffman.

The International Accord goes further than its predecessor agreement, allowing for potential expansion into new territories. Last month, Accord representatives visited Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Feasibility studies for expansion into other ready-made garment-producing hubs are also going on in India and Morocco.

“The Accord’s continuation and expansion are essential; workers are still dying in the garment and textile industries. Its model of inspections, worker safety training and a real complaints mechanism, backed up by a legally binding commitment from brands, has prevented a repeat of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, and now we will keep pushing to prevent another catastrophic tragedy in other countries,” added Hoffman.