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| H&M and Zara to sign Bangladesh safety accord | H&M and Zara to sign Bangladesh safety accord |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Retailers in Europe, including Hennes & Mauritz and Inditex which owns Zara, have said they will sign an accord to improve safety conditions in factories in Bangladesh. | Retailers in Europe, including Hennes & Mauritz and Inditex which owns Zara, have said they will sign an accord to improve safety conditions in factories in Bangladesh. |
| It comes after a garment factory building collapsed in April, killing more than 1,100 people. | It comes after a garment factory building collapsed in April, killing more than 1,100 people. |
| However, US firm Gap Inc declined to sign the agreement, throwing its impact into question. | However, US firm Gap Inc declined to sign the agreement, throwing its impact into question. |
| Bangladesh is the biggest exporter of clothing after China. | |
| Two labour groups are behind the legally-binding agreement, called the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. They have set a deadline of 15 May for retailers to sign on. | Two labour groups are behind the legally-binding agreement, called the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. They have set a deadline of 15 May for retailers to sign on. |
| The accord includes regulations on safety inspections and requires retailers to pay for factory repairs. | The accord includes regulations on safety inspections and requires retailers to pay for factory repairs. |
| Discount clothing company Primark and UK supermarket chain Tesco have also signed up to the agreement. | Discount clothing company Primark and UK supermarket chain Tesco have also signed up to the agreement. |
| Sixty percent of Bangladesh's garment exports go to European retailers. | Sixty percent of Bangladesh's garment exports go to European retailers. |
| US retailer Gap said it would only sign the accord if changes were made to rules on how disputes were resolved. | US retailer Gap said it would only sign the accord if changes were made to rules on how disputes were resolved. |
| "With this single change, this global, historic agreement can move forward with a group of all retailers, not just those based in Europe," said Eva Sage-Gavin, from Gap's global human resources and corporate affairs department, in a statement. | "With this single change, this global, historic agreement can move forward with a group of all retailers, not just those based in Europe," said Eva Sage-Gavin, from Gap's global human resources and corporate affairs department, in a statement. |
| The collapse of the factory was Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster. In the wake of it the government has been taking steps to try and reassure Western buyers. | The collapse of the factory was Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster. In the wake of it the government has been taking steps to try and reassure Western buyers. |
| On Monday, it altered the country's labour law to allow garment workers to form unions. Earlier it increased the minimum wage in the sector to $38 (£25) a month, which is still one of the lowest in the world. | On Monday, it altered the country's labour law to allow garment workers to form unions. Earlier it increased the minimum wage in the sector to $38 (£25) a month, which is still one of the lowest in the world. |