Global RMG retailers assure continual support despite militant attacks

The Alliance, the grouping of 28 world leading fashion brands and retailers, today assured Bangladesh of its continued support to the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector despite recent terrorist attacks that sparked fears that it may cause a setback for the highest remittance earning industry. 

"Despite these unspeakable tragedies, the Alliance and our member companies will continue to stay the course - because improving safety for the millions of men and women who make a living in Bangladesh's garment sector is a moral imperative," country director for the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety James Moriarty told briefing for international media. 

He added: "On behalf of the Alliance, our member companies and our staff, I am heartened and humbled by the strength of the Bangladeshi people, and I am confident their resilience will see them through these challenging times." 

The Alliance assurance came amid skepticism that the apparel industry that earns Bangladesh the highest amount of foreign currency would face a setback of the two subsequent terrorist attacks earlier this month in the capital city and Kishoreganj. 

Moriarty, a former US ambassador in Dhaka, made the comment while releasing the quarterly progress update on factory remediation and worker empowerment initiatives in Bangladesh by the Alliance, established in 2013 to help improve safety in garment factories after the collapse of Rana Plaza claiming 1,100 lives in April 2013. 

The group comprises Ariela and Associates International LLC; Bon Worth; Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited; Carter's Inc.; The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc.; Costco Wholesale Corporation; Fruit of the Loom, Inc.; Gap Inc.; Giant Tiger; Hudson's Bay Company; IFG Corp.; Intradeco Apparel; J.C. Penney Company Inc.; Jordache Enterprises, Inc.; The Just Group; Kate Spade & Company; Kohl's Department Stores; L. L. Bean Inc.; M. Hidary & Company Inc.; Macy's; Nine West Holdings, Inc.; Nordstrom Inc.; Public Clothing Company; Sears Holdings Corporation; Target Corporation; VF Corporation; and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc: and YM Inc. 

Referring to the attacks, Moriarty said that Alliance's thoughts and prayers would remain with everyone affected by the recent violent attacks. 

"On behalf of the Alliance, our member companies and our staff, I am heartened and humbled by the strength of the Bangladeshi people, and I am confident their resilience will see them through these challenging times," he said. 

Citing the finding of the latest update, he said the Alliance noticed several positive developments related to factory safety improvements. 

"First, on the topic of remediation: as of today, 28 factories have completed their Corrective Action Plans or CAPs - an increase of 17 percent since our last call," he noted. 

Besides, he said, across all factories, more than one-third of the issues most critical to life safety were already addressed, two years ahead of the deadline. 

Since the end of the first quarter, an additional six factories have been suspended for failure to make adequate remediation progress-bringing the total to 83 factories suspended, he said. 

The former diplomat said the Alliance by now trained 1.2 million workers in fire safety, and was now getting ready to re-train entire work force of the garment sector. 

According to the update, more than 1.1 million workers in over 770 factories now have access to Alliance's "confidential 24-hour worker helpline-which allows them to safely and anonymously report concerns-safety or otherwise-within their factories". 

"I'm proud that today, these remediation and worker empowerment initiatives have made the Bangladesh RMG industry much safer than it was three years ago-and our progress is only intensifying now that remediation is underway at every Alliance factory," the Alliance country director said.

Source: BSS