ILO Meeting of Experts adopts first-ever Code of Practice for textile and garment industry 13 October, 2021After a week of negotiations between governments, employers and trade unions, more than 60 million workers in the textile and garment industry around the world will now benefit from a new code of practice with concrete guidance on improving health and safety.
Save workers’ lives and make occupational health and safety fundamental right 27 September, 2021According to the first joint WHO/ILO monitoring report, at least 1.9 million workers lose their lives every year due to the work-related diseases and injuries. However, when adding causes of death by risk factors not included and filling in information gaps from poor record-keeping to the data from 2000 – 2016, the number is closer to a staggering 3 million deaths.
Bangladesh’s dangerous shipbreaking yards claim two more lives23 September, 2021In just a week, two more workers have been killed and three have been injured due to the deplorable lack of safety in Chittagong’s shipbreaking yards. IndustriALL affiliates BMF and BMCGTWF have repeatedly brought up the issue of health and safety with both Bangladesh’s government and the ship owners, but to no avail.
International Safety Accord begins with 91 garment brands and retailers 1 September, 20211 September 2021, marks the official commencement of the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industry, a 26-month legally-binding agreement to make ready-made garment (RMG) factories safe.
Deadly factory fire in Pakistan 31 August, 2021On 27 August, 17 workers in Mehran Town, Pakistan, were killed as a fire swept through an illegal factory producing bags. Exits and windows were barred, meaning the workers had no way out. The fire is a stark reminder that without implementation, protective laws are useless.
International Accord: tentative agreement on expanded worker safety programmes25 August, 2021Negotiations between IndustriALL, UNI and leading textile and garment brands signatories to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh have yielded a tentative agreement that continues the parties’ legally binding commitments to workplace safety in Bangladesh and expands the programme to other countries.
Covid-19 spreads in Myanmar’s factories25 August, 2021Two members of Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) have died from Covid-19 and more than 100 of factory-level union leaders have been infected, as the health protocols on handling the Covid pandemic are being largely ignored.
Factory fire in Tunisia shows lack of safety measures 24 August, 2021A fire in Valeo car component factory, employing more than 1,500 workers, on 10 August, ruined the entire plant. But thanks to union intervention, half of the workforce is already back at work.
ST Microelectronics Malaysia - don’t put profit before workers’ safety17 August, 2021Over the last months, 19 employees at ST Microelectronics, Malaysia, have died from Covid-19. More than 100 employees are still infected and around 600 workers are placed in quarantine.
Bangladesh factory fire deaths demonstrate need for new Accord12 July, 2021The death of at least 52 workers at the Hashem Food juice factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, shows that factory safety continues to be a major issue in the country.
