H&M, Inditex and C&A sign charter for safer factories in Bangladesh

Rising consumer protest

The agreement H&M and parent company of
Zara, Inditex, have signed, is valid for the next five years. It includes more
independent inspections of buildings, with the obligation to improve conditions
of dangerous circumstances. The document also acknowledges labour unions’ rights to
inform workers about their rights and their safety. The International Labour
Organization (ILO) supports the deal.

The clothing industry in Bangladesh employs
about 3 to 5 million people, but the last months the country has been in the
news repeatedly concerning its unsafe workshops. Three weeks ago over 1,100 workers
lost their lives when their factory collapsed. This led to worldwide outrage
and petitions that were signed by more than a million consumers.

H&M “largest buyer”

“No worker needs to fear fires, building
collapses or other accidents that could be prevented with reasonable health and
safety measures.”, says Swedish clothing giant H&M, the largest buyer in
Bangladesh (although the chain emphasised it was not a customer of the
collapsed factory). “We hope for a broad coalition of signatures in order for
the agreement to work effectively on ground”, says Helena Helmersson, Head of
Sustainability H&M.

Inditex also signed the new agreement with
IndustriALL Global Union, the driving force behind the negotiations with
clothing brands. Next to the two largest textile retailers in the world also C&A has signed the agreement.

“Saving lives”

“This is absolutely historic”, says Ben
Vanpeperstraete of Clean Clothes Campain, the NGO that has been striving for
better working conditions for years. “Not only does it hold extensive agreements,
it is a commitment made by the largest clothing chains in the world. A better
signal could not be given to the world.”

Especially the fact the brands have committed
to pay for renovations that make factories safer, is a huge step forward: “This
way the agreement will save lives”, said the NGO, but “the battle is not over yet, because low wages are not mentioned in the agreement.”