International Accord waives fee for industry
The government was asked to take serious measures to save the trade and industry from collapse so that the economy can be brought out of crisis. Photo: File
The Executive Director of the International Accord on Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, Joris Oldenziel, on Tuesday, offered Pakistan’s textile manufacturers free of cost participation.
According to its website, “The International Accord is a legally binding agreement between over 180 garment brands/retailers and global trade unions to make textile and garment factories safe. It came into effect on September 1, 2021, as the successor to the 2013 and 2018 Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.”
The goal of the agreement is to promote workplace safety through independent inspections, remediation, and training programmes. It also recognises the rights of workers to organise, refuse unsafe work and raise health and safety concerns.
“Although the accord charges a fee for its services from international brands and buyers, the participation fee will be waived for local Pakistani manufacturers,” said Oldenziel.
“The accord was created to ensure that workers operate in a safe working environment without fearing building safety accidents and other workplace safety issues,” explained the executive.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman for the APTMA North Zone, Hamid Zaman said, “The member mills are 100% compliant corporate entities and the performance of the industries is strictly monitored by international and national agencies.”
“The textile industry in Pakistan is fully compliant to international and local sustainability standards like SA 8000, Oeko Tex made for green, Step etc,” he noted adding that, “Apart from ensuring compliance with 27 conventions of the GSP-Plus status, relating to social, gender, environment, and other aspects, the textile mills also contribute to the implementation of the SDGs.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2022.
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