International Accord statement on new garment factory fire
In response to the Bangladesh garment industry’s most recent fatal factory fire on October 14, campaign organisation The International Accord said in a statement that it was deeply saddened by the incident.
It sent its condolences to victims, their families and all those affected. The authorities have confirmed at least 16 fatalities.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of inadequate safety measures,” the organisation said. It said safe exits from factories, unlocked gates, alarms that work, effective fire separation and “strong emergency preparedness” were essential for every worker, in the garment industry and beyond.
The International Accord said that, to its knowledge, the establishments affected by the October fire were not on the list of firms its signatories work with. As a result, these facilities were not covered by the formal inspection and remediation programme that the Ready Made Garment Sustainability Council (RSC) runs in Bangladesh.
RSC was set up in 2020 by the International Accord’s predecessor, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.
In the statement, the International Accord said that, for more than a decade, the collective efforts of brands, trade unions, factories and civil society partners have contributed to lasting workplace health and safety improvements within the garment sector in Bangladesh.
It reaffirmed its dedication to working with global brands, industry partners, and worker representatives to help build and maintain “a culture of health and safety that prevents such tragedies”.
