This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/25/bangladesh-factory-collapse-primark-inspections
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh factory collapse: Primark urged to sign up to safety agreement | Bangladesh factory collapse: Primark urged to sign up to safety agreement |
| (12 days later) | |
| Primark is at loggerheads with campaigning organisations over signing up to an action plan that will prevent building collapses in Bangladesh in the wake of this week's disaster at a factory in Dhaka. | Primark is at loggerheads with campaigning organisations over signing up to an action plan that will prevent building collapses in Bangladesh in the wake of this week's disaster at a factory in Dhaka. |
| NGOs have called on Primark, whose supplier Simple Approach occupied the second floor of the eight-storey Rana Plaza building that collapsed, to sign up to the Bangladesh Fire and Safety Agreement. The BFSA was drawn up by trade unions and labour rights organisations following the deaths of 112 Bangladeshi workers in a factory fire and requires the publication of independent building inspections. | NGOs have called on Primark, whose supplier Simple Approach occupied the second floor of the eight-storey Rana Plaza building that collapsed, to sign up to the Bangladesh Fire and Safety Agreement. The BFSA was drawn up by trade unions and labour rights organisations following the deaths of 112 Bangladeshi workers in a factory fire and requires the publication of independent building inspections. |
| So far, Calvin Klein, the owner of Tommy Hilfiger, PvH, and German retailer Tchibo have signed up but Primark is pursuing a different plan. | So far, Calvin Klein, the owner of Tommy Hilfiger, PvH, and German retailer Tchibo have signed up but Primark is pursuing a different plan. |
| A Primark spokesman said: "Primark is seeking an agreed methodology for testing the integrity of buildings where there are multiple factories on multiple floors with different tenants. It is not easy to agree how this will be achieved, but this is what the company is seeking and it will ask the ETI [Ethical Trading Initiative] to look into this issue." | A Primark spokesman said: "Primark is seeking an agreed methodology for testing the integrity of buildings where there are multiple factories on multiple floors with different tenants. It is not easy to agree how this will be achieved, but this is what the company is seeking and it will ask the ETI [Ethical Trading Initiative] to look into this issue." |
| The company is a member of the ETI, which is an alliance of businesses, trade unions and voluntary organisations, which aim to improve working conditions. | The company is a member of the ETI, which is an alliance of businesses, trade unions and voluntary organisations, which aim to improve working conditions. |
| ETI director Peter McAllister explained that since November last year the organisation has been discussing ways to drive better standards and is finalising a common approach to improve factory conditions. | ETI director Peter McAllister explained that since November last year the organisation has been discussing ways to drive better standards and is finalising a common approach to improve factory conditions. |
| He added: "In the absence of government intervention, it falls to sourcing companies to ensure that at least the minimum standards in fire and building safety are achieved. It should be recognised that the integrity of a building is not always immediately obvious, and this goes beyond regular audit or compliance." | He added: "In the absence of government intervention, it falls to sourcing companies to ensure that at least the minimum standards in fire and building safety are achieved. It should be recognised that the integrity of a building is not always immediately obvious, and this goes beyond regular audit or compliance." |
| The spat comes as the clothing retailer Mango confirmed it had garments produced at the Rana Plaza factory for a test run, after activists found clothing labels from the Spanish retailer in the debris. | The spat comes as the clothing retailer Mango confirmed it had garments produced at the Rana Plaza factory for a test run, after activists found clothing labels from the Spanish retailer in the debris. |
| Primark also revealed it carried out annual inspections of the space it was using, but did not inspect the building structure. | Primark also revealed it carried out annual inspections of the space it was using, but did not inspect the building structure. |
| The company has since flown out senior managers from its ethical trading department to the region and is offering food and support to survivors of Wednesday's disaster. | The company has since flown out senior managers from its ethical trading department to the region and is offering food and support to survivors of Wednesday's disaster. |
| Sam Maher at NGO Labour Behind the Label called on the retailer to sign up to the BFSA. She said: "Primark and others hold meeting after meeting to discuss what could be done, but we all know what the problems are and it requires political will and money and at the moment the industry hasn't been prepared to do that. | Sam Maher at NGO Labour Behind the Label called on the retailer to sign up to the BFSA. She said: "Primark and others hold meeting after meeting to discuss what could be done, but we all know what the problems are and it requires political will and money and at the moment the industry hasn't been prepared to do that. |
| "We're not saying factories will become safe overnight, but it's a start. If people don't sign up to these projects we are going to see another disaster. We didn't expect this to be so big, but it was always going to happen." | "We're not saying factories will become safe overnight, but it's a start. If people don't sign up to these projects we are going to see another disaster. We didn't expect this to be so big, but it was always going to happen." |
| Other retailers said to have used the factory include Walmart, Bonmarche and C&A. Matalan previously ordered clothes from the site. | Other retailers said to have used the factory include Walmart, Bonmarche and C&A. Matalan previously ordered clothes from the site. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |