House Democratic Leaders Want U.S. Retailers to Sign International Worker's Rights Accord for Bangladesh
A group of House Democrats are urging major U.S. retailers to sign an international agreement to uphold safety standards in foreign factories, in wake of the devastating factory collapse in Bangladesh. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Minority Whip Steny Hoyer,…
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D-Md., and Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin, D-Mich., among others, signed the letters. They were sent to nine U.S. retailers: The Gap, Target, JCPenney, The Children’s Place, Walmart, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears/Kmart and VF Corporation. The letter asks the retailers to sign the May 12 Accord on Fire and Building Safety, partially developed by the Worker Rights Consortium. “For any solution to be effective, all the key stakeholders … need to be at the table,” the letters said. “Part of the solution, in our view, has to be a fully enforceable agreement under which major U.S. and European brands commit to sourcing from Bangladesh under conditions that ensure workers have basic health and safety protections.” The May 12 accord requires signatories to develop, finance and implement a fire and safety building program in Bangladesh for five years. It includes a provision for an independent safety inspector, and requires companies to compensate employees should factories close for safety renovations. The accord has already been signed by about 30 companies including H&M, Primark, Esprit and Abercrombie & Fitch. Read the accord (here).