Bangladesh factory tragedy remembered

The U.S. and European Union highlighted reforms in the garment industry following the 2013 factory collapse at a commemorative event.    On Friday, U.S. and European Union officials marked the second anniversary of the devastating apparel factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that resulted in more than 1,100 deaths. The accident led to a series of commitments by governments and the private sector to ensure worker safety and health in the garment sector.
   The collapse of the Rana Plaza building was preceded by several deadly garment factory fires in 2013.
   Since then, the government of Bangladesh has amended its labor law to provide more freedoms to associate and collectively bargain, as well as strengthen occupational health and safety rules, according to a joint statement. It has also recruited and begun training a significant number of new factory inspectors, started fire and structural safety assessments, and begun posting online factory safety information. In the two years since the tragedy, Bangladesh has established a hotline to report labor concerns and has registered about 300 new trade unions.
   Two private sector initiatives, supported by western retailers, have also assessed the structural and fire safety of more than ready-made garment 2,000 factories, and forced the closure of more than 30 factories that posed the greatest risk of catastrophic failure.
   The U.S. and EU governments encouraged Bangladesh to continue reforming its labor laws, complete safety inspections of all garment factories, and continue to register unions in a timely and transparent manner.
   “Also of pressing concern, the government should respond swiftly to cases of unfair labor practices, violence, and harassment against trade unions and workers’ representatives. We note that advances in health, safety, and labor rights will remain fragile and impermanent if workers are unable to exercise those rights and organize to represent their interests and concerns,” the statement said.