Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman visited Bangladesh, the world's second biggest garment maker after China. PHOTO: AFP
Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman visited Bangladesh, the world's second biggest garment maker after China, to urge the government to learn the lessons of a building collapse last month that killed 1,129 workers.
She referred to the changes in regulations, building codes and inspections implemented in the US after the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York, which killed 146 workers.
"It was a transformation and we hope that is the case here in Bangladesh as well," she said late on Monday following meetings with government officials, workers' groups and businesses.
Asked about the role of international buyers, she said they too must work to improve safety in an industry plagued by accidents and "sweatshop" conditions for workers, who are paid less than $40 a month.
"Absolutely, the buyers have a critical role. We will continue to work in every way to get the buyers to come to the table and every appropriate way to play the part that they must play for a sustainable solution," she said.
International workers' associations such as Swiss-based UNI and IndustriALL Global Union have pressured Western retailers to sign up to a legally binding agreement committing them to independent building and fire safety inspections.
While big European brands such as H&M, Zara, Marks & Spencer and major supermarket buyers have signed up, US groups like Walmart and Gap have refused because of concerns about their legal liability.
The hugely popular Japanese brand Uniqlo, a big buyer in Bangladesh, has become the latest group to refuse to sign the pact, reports say.
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Yes its these big companies and economies which should insist on basic health and safety checks. Bdesh should comply with these ASAP else the big companies will go to other third world countries .There is no dearth of third world countries some of which are in Europe itself .Why will they bother coming to Asia or Africa.
“Ingress and Egress” to ALL our public places are prone to encroachments of one kind or another. In the case of mosques one has to wade through a sea of slippers and a conference of hustlers just to get to the worship area. Our markets are no exception as is obvious from the recent fire at ABID Market and LDA plaza. Perhaps nothing comes close to the tragedy in Bangladesh, 1200 persons died. The obvious cause for the tragedy was STATIONING OF GENERATORS on the roof of the building. Roof slabs in buildings are designed for rain-water not VIBRATING LOADS of Mammoth Generators. The oil spill from generators breaks the Bond between the steel reinforcement and concrete. In Lahore this problem started when the government allowed cell phone companies to install towers on roofs of buildings. The cell phone companies added Generators without approval of LDA.
LDA was burned down last week so the competence of this AUTHORITY to initiate anything is dubious. Cell phone operators should voluntarily install solar panels next to their towers on buildings and save Lahore an tragedy like BD.