Background
×

Bangladesh Accord Signatories

Click to see full updated list of signatories

ACTION on Bangladesh

On 24 April 2013, the Rana Plaza collapsed, killing 1,100 workers and injuring thousands more. Since then, more than 200 global brands and retailers have signed the historic the Accord on Fire and Building Safety and more than 1,500 factory inspections have been carried out. The Rana Plaza compensation fund, set up for the victims and their families, has finally reached its target of US$30 million.

For a truly safe and sustainable garment industry strong trade unions are needed - IndustriALL is relentless in pursuing our goal to organize and to fight for a living wage for all garment workers.

Bangladesh Accord Signatories

Timeline

18 June, 2015 Global unions denounce comments made by Bangladesh Finance Minister

8 June 2015, Rana Plaza victims’ compensation fund reaches US$30 million target

29 April 2015, Last push to close the compensation gap

23 April 2015, Rob Wayss, executive director, and Brad Loewen, chief safety inspector, talk about safety in garment factories

17 April 2015, Reactive statement: Benetton pays $1.1 million into Rana Plaza compensation fund

24 March 2015, Rana Plaza: Countdown to second anniversary begins with compensation fund still US$9 million short

20 February 2015, Benetton agrees to pay Rana Plaza compensation

19 February 2015, Global Unions say to Benetton 'Pagare'/Pay Up!

12 February 2015, Union strength and brand pressure

15 January 2015, "Seeing tremendous gains in life safety," says Brad Loewen, Accord chief safety inspector

20 August 2014, Organizing in Bangladesh – changing the dynamics

6 August 2014, Unpaid garment workers on hunger strike

17 July 2014, More action needed from Bangladesh Government

15 May 2014, Tally Weijl signs Bangladesh Accord on one year anniversary

15 May 2014, One year anniversary of the Bangladesh Accord

24 April 2014, Brands’ commitment to Rana Plaza compensation fund woefully inadequate

24 April 2014, Rana Plaza - survivor stories - Rehana Khartun

24 April 2014, I was forced to go up - Rana Plaza victim

23 April 2014, What does the Bangladesh Accord deliver?

23 April 2014, Q&A with Jyrki Raina one year after Rana Plaza

23 April 2014, Q&A with Mojtaba Kazazi

9 April 2014, Clothing brands fail Rana Plaza survivors

25 March 2014, Bangladesh action in full swing

19 March 2014, Rana Plaza Trust Fund to launch worker payments as of 24 March

14 March 2014, Rana Plaza: Primark called on to pay up as launch date of payments announced

10 March 2014, First round of independent and transparent factory inspection reports completed in Bangladesh

7 March 2014, Rana Plaza brands must pay compensation by 9am on 24 April

3 March 2014, Jyrki Raina speaks about his tour to five Asian countries

20 February 2014, Rana Plaza compensation arrangement needs brands’ commitment

29 January 2014, Migros and Coop refuse to sign Bangladesh safety accord despite 1800 deaths in 7 years

15 January 2014, Bangladesh Accord announces establishment of factory safety inspection standards

27 December 2013, Compensation fund created for Rana Plaza victims

20 December 2013, A Year of Struggle and Victories

19 December 2013, JUST GROUP – “Just sign it”

16 december 2013, Final call before Christmas for Swiss supermarkets to sign Accord

5 December 2013, IndustriALL launches second issue of “Global Worker”

28 November 2013, IndustriALL leading the struggle for Bangladeshi garment workers

26 November 2013, Bangladesh - 1 year after the Tazreen Fashion factory fire

26 November 2013, One-year anniversary - injured workers and family members of dead workers of Tazreen form human chain

21 November 2013, IndustriALL marks one year since Tazreen fire

15 November 2013, Rana Plaza compensation talks still frustrate

25 October 2013, Candlelit vigil at Rana Plaza

24 October 2013, Human chain at the site of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh.

24 October 2013, Families hold candlelit vigil at Rana Plaza site six months on

24 October 2013, BANGLADESH - 6 months after the collapse of Rana Plaza - Jyrki Raina

24 October 2013, marks 6 months since the Rana Plaza collapse

24 October 2013, Accord statement upon the six-month anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster

18 October 2013, Bangladesh Accord appoints its leadership team

17 October 2013, 100 brand milestone for Bangladesh Accord

24 September 2013, 200,000 Bangladeshi garment workers rally for a decent wage

11-12 September 2013, Bangladesh compensation meetings in Geneva

29 July 2013, Delegation in Dhaka promotes implementation of Accord

8 July 2013, New EU Compact urges companies to sign Bangladesh Accord

July 2013, Bangladesh Safety Accord implementation moving forward

26 June 2013, OECD National Contact Points support Bangladesh Accord

20 June 2013, Ban Ki-moon backs Bangladesh Safety Deal

June 2013, Bangladeshi unions reject inadequate labour law changes

6 June 2013, IndustriALL, UNI and ITUC visit Bangladesh

31 May 2013, Walmart and GAP run away from Bangladesh Accord

23 May 2013, Global brands pull together on Bangladesh safety deal

15 May 2013, Release of Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety

14 May 2013, Final Countdown for companies to sign Accord before 15 May midnight deadline

13 May 2013, Companies sigh the Accord on Fire and Building safety

9 May 2013, 8 killed in fire in Tung Hai garment factory in Mirpur, Dhaka

6 May 2013, EU Commission commits to push for fundamental rights in Bangladesh garment sector

29 April 2013, Deadline set for 15 May for a Bangladesh safety plan

26 April 2013, over 5000 workers protest in Dhaka

24 April 2013, RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE

15 April 2013, European brands agree to compensate Tazreen victims

24 February 2013, Families of fire victims get compensation

22 February 2013, IndustriALL Multi-stakeholder meeting in Dhaka

26 January 2013, 7 workers die in fire at Smart Fashions

17 January 2013, European Parliament adopts resolution on factory fires (

15 January 2013, Tripartite effort on fire safety in Bangladesh

December 2012, Global unions call for measures after Tazreen fire

26 November 2012, day of mourning for fire victims

24 November 2012, over 100 workers die in fire at the Tazreen Fashion

7 October 2012, fire in Begun Bari and Sattala slums area

20 September 2012, Tchibo joins agreement on garment factory safety in Bangladesh

Another factory fire in Bangladesh claims 24 lives

10 September 2016 at 19:53

An explosion in the Tempako Packaging Factory in an industrial area near Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 10 September has left up to 24 people dead and injured at least 50.

Enforceability key to changing Bangladesh’s garment industry

2 June 2016 at 19:46

Three years after the creation of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, its current status and future challenges were discussed at a side event at the International Labour Conference in Geneva on 2 June. Despite some unacceptable delays in remediation progress, the Accord is making significant headway according to representatives from both workers and brands.

Bangladesh unions take forward demand for living wage

26 April 2016 at 17:37

In a national workshop on the living wage held on 22 and 23 April 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladeshi unions resolved to intensify their campaign for a living wage.

Workers demand justice on third anniversary of Rana Plaza collapse

26 April 2016 at 10:11

On 24 April, workers in Bangladesh and Pakistan remembered the dead and demanded improved factory safety, and punishment to those responsible for the garment factory tragedy in Bangladesh three years ago. 

Why boycotting brands won’t help garment workers

21 April 2016 at 15:09

By Jenny Holdcroft, policy director at IndustriALL Global Union.

3 years on from Rana Plaza, the Bangladesh Accord is saving lives

21 April 2016 at 12:14

As one of the worst industrial disasters in recent history, the Rana Plaza factory collapse is a reminder that disregarding human and labour rights can cost lives. Three years on, Bangladesh’s garment industry is starting to feel the benefits of the Accord on Fire and Safety in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh garment factories still not safe

3 February 2016 at 15:52

Dangerous garment factories are still a reality in Bangladesh as yet another fire erupts in Dhaka’s garment district.

Global unions criticize Bangladesh Government over EU compact

26 January 2016 at 14:00

Three global unions have made a critical assessment of the Government of Bangladesh saying it is failing to comply with a compact made with the European Union in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster.

Chevron sacks union organizers in Bangladesh

24 September 2015 at 11:02

IndustriALL Global Union is condemning Chevron’s illegal union busting in Bangladesh, and calls for corrective action by the multinational energy company.

Global unions denounce comments made by Bangladesh Finance Minister

18 June 2015 at 13:47

Global union federations IndustriALL and UNI have strongly denounced comments made this week by the Bangladesh Finance Minister.

Rana Plaza victims’ compensation fund reaches US$30 million target

8 June 2015 at 18:10

IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union, two signatories to the Bangladesh Accord, welcome the news that the Rana Plaza Compensation Fund has finally reached its target.

Blame for Rana Plaza runs far and wide

2 June 2015 at 14:22

Culpability for the Rana Plaza disaster, which killed more than 1,100 people and injured 2,500, is widespread, says IndustriALL Global Union as the owner of the factory complex and 41 other people have been charged with murder over the building’s collapse in Bangladesh two years ago. 

Fashion’s True Cost is at workers’ expense

1 June 2015 at 08:13

The latest exposé of the global fashion industry ‘The True Cost’, released on 29 May, once again shines the spotlight on the appalling conditions faced by the workers that produce our clothes.

IndustriALL executives decide on global action

29 May 2015 at 23:37

Almost 200 participants gathered in Stockholm for IndustriALL Global Union’s Executive Committee on 19-20 May, endorsing action on living wages, organizing, trade union rights and precarious work around the world.

Bangladesh Accord announces first factories to complete safety recommendations

27 May 2015 at 14:39

Two factories in Bangladesh producing clothes for global brands have become the first to complete safety recommendations made by inspectors from the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.

Second anniversary of the Accord

21 May 2015 at 10:33

As the Accord for Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh marks its second anniversary, the garment industry in Bangladesh is on the way to become safe for its thousands of workers.

Rana Plaza – a last push to close the compensation gap

29 April 2015 at 16:54

24 April marked the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh. After intense campaigning from global unions and other stakeholders, the Rana Plaza compensation fund lacks US$2,7 million to reach the US$30 million needed for the victims and their families. 

Progress update on the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh

23 April 2015 at 16:29

Listen to Rob Wayss, executive director, and Brad Loewen, chief safety inspector, talk about how handling safety in garment factories in Bangladesh has changed since the Accord came into force.

Rana Plaza two years on: progress but no hiding from massive task ahead

23 April 2015 at 12:19

On 24 April it will be two years since the Rana Plaza collapsed, killing more than 1,100 workers and injuring thousands more. The labour movement and its NGO partners are calling on the garment industry to show that it has the leadership to staying the course and changing the global supply chain permanently.

Reactive statement: Benetton pays $1.1 million into Rana Plaza compensation fund

17 April 2015 at 15:56

Following news that Benetton will pay $1.1 million into the ILO-administered Rana Plaza compensation fund, UNI Global Union and IndustriALL Global Union – the two global unions campaigning for fair and just compensation on behalf of the victims – issued the following statement:

Rana Plaza: Countdown to second anniversary begins with compensation fund still US$9 million short

24 March 2015 at 09:23

IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union and the Clean Clothes Campaign have launched a countdown to the second anniversary of Rana Plaza, calling on brands to fill the gap in compensation for victims before 24 April 2015.