Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Bangladesh could take over workplace safety despite 'shocking unreadiness'
Source: The Guardian
Bangladesh could take over workplace safety despite 'shocking unreadiness'
Exclusive: supreme court to decide whether to kick out accord on building and fire safety
Michael Safi, South Asia correspondent
Mon 1 Apr 2019 14.19 BST
Bangladesh’s government could assume responsibility for safety in workplaces producing clothing for major western brands this week despite demonstrating a “shocking level of unreadiness” to do so, according to an analysis of the state’s own data.
The country’s supreme court is scheduled to decide on Sunday whether to kick out the Bangladesh accord on building and fire safety, an international initiative to remove life-threatening hazards from factories that was put in place after the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza complex in which more 1,100 people died.
The accord has overseen improvements including the installation of fire doors, sprinkler systems and the upgrading of electric wiring in 1,688 factories that produce clothing for brands such as H&M, Esprit and Primark. The Bangladesh government has been responsible for improving safety in about 745 other factories.
Bangladesh’s labour ministry and garment factory owners argue the $29bn industry has become much safer in the six years since the disaster and that its inspectors are ready to take over the accord’s work.
But the government’s performance in the 745 factories under its control illustrate otherwise, according to an analysis by a consortium of labour rights organisations seen by the Guardian, which will be published on Tuesday.
-snip-
Exclusive: supreme court to decide whether to kick out accord on building and fire safety
Michael Safi, South Asia correspondent
Mon 1 Apr 2019 14.19 BST
Bangladesh’s government could assume responsibility for safety in workplaces producing clothing for major western brands this week despite demonstrating a “shocking level of unreadiness” to do so, according to an analysis of the state’s own data.
The country’s supreme court is scheduled to decide on Sunday whether to kick out the Bangladesh accord on building and fire safety, an international initiative to remove life-threatening hazards from factories that was put in place after the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza complex in which more 1,100 people died.
The accord has overseen improvements including the installation of fire doors, sprinkler systems and the upgrading of electric wiring in 1,688 factories that produce clothing for brands such as H&M, Esprit and Primark. The Bangladesh government has been responsible for improving safety in about 745 other factories.
Bangladesh’s labour ministry and garment factory owners argue the $29bn industry has become much safer in the six years since the disaster and that its inspectors are ready to take over the accord’s work.
But the government’s performance in the 745 factories under its control illustrate otherwise, according to an analysis by a consortium of labour rights organisations seen by the Guardian, which will be published on Tuesday.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/01/bangladesh-accord-on-building-and-fire-safety