Green light to a new Bangladesh Agreement: international, binding and until 2023

Las principales organizaciones sociales sin ánimo de lucro, sindicatos y empresas que impulsaron la firma del original Acuerdo de Bangladesh en 2013, respuesta al trágico derrumbe de la fábrica Rana Plaza de Dhaka, han logrado finalmente superar las diferencias que mostraban en sus demandas, y han establecido las bases de un nuevo acuerdo, ahora bajo el nombre de “International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry” (Acuerdo internacional para la salud y la seguridad en la industria textil y de la confección). Un documento que entrará en vigor el próximo 1 de septiembre de 2021, y que como principal novedad frente al acuerdo original, está en que las partes se comprometen a impulsar activamente su aplicación en el ámbito internacional y más allá de las fronteras de Bangladesh, a las que se ceñía el pacto original.

Through an official statement, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) signatories of the Bangladesh agreement, among which are Clean Clothes Campaign, the Worker Rights Consortium, the Solidarity Network maquila and the Global Justice-International Labor Right Forum work,They have not hesitated to enter to enter into the signing of this new agreement, which will seek to achieve the same success results, for the quality of employment and safety of workers, which were achieved with the original agreement.A new document to which they invite you to join all those fashion brands that seek to demonstrate that they truly value "the life of workers who sew their clothes", in the face of the behavior of those other companies and groups that will continue to be located outside this initiative,choosing "consciously risk the life of workers in the factories they hire."A "reckless" position that "must end."

"This agreement will begin the long -awaited expansion of this model that legally holds brands in other countries, in which workers' lives remain in danger," has not hesitated to point out INEKE ZELDENRUST, international coordinator of the Clean organizationClothes Campaign, through the aforementioned statement."In many of these countries, the syndicates and workers' rights organizations have been praying for years with an effective action in the field of work security", and therefore "we are happy that this agreement becomesNow truly international, and we hope you will soon begin to expand to other countries, in which they demand it and need it urgently. ”

"The Bangladesh preparation workers used to die for dozens and hundreds making t -shirts and sweaters for the world's main fashion brands," says Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium."The agreement managed to put an end to that horror," and "whenever you sign enough brands, this new agreement will guarantee that this never happens again."

Binding Agreement until 2023

Once settled, as you kiss them from the agreement, whose validity has been established until October 31, 2023, the efforts of their drivers go through ensuring that all the brands that obtain their garments originating in high -risk countries, both inThe southern Asia as in other regions of the world, sign this new International Agreement for Security in the textile and preparation industry.

Una acción que de no llevar a cabo, sería mal recibida por parte de sus propios consumidores y clientes, cada vez más concienciados sobre la necesidad de contar con una industria de la confección ética y ambientalmente comprometida. Y eso sin entrar en las consecuencias a las que podrían quedar igualmente expuestas, en base a la legislación de diligencia debida de las empresas que contempla la actual normativa francesa, a la que le seguirán una próxima legislación, en su mismo sentido, desde Alemania, y todo ello a la espera de la aprobación de la futura normativa europea.

With the objective of guaranteeing the human rights of preparation workers, throughout the entire value chain

Apart from these considerations, the main points of the new agreement pass, first, to guarantee and renew the same essential aspects that were included in the original agreement.Some bases to which new commitments have now been added, and with an eye on being able to expand the responsibility of companies on factories and suppliers of those used in other countries.

Thus, as in the original Bangladesh agreement, the new agreement will be legally binding, and will encourage and guarantee the respect of free association, its application from independent means, a high level of transparency, fire safety in fires inFactories and buildings, provisions of funds to ensure that their solutions are financially viable, and will encourage the development of training and training programs, as well as an independent and safe mechanism for the presentation of complaints and claims.

Meanwhile, as new points that have been introduced as a result of the negotiations for the new agreement, the signatories undertake to focus on the development of occupational health and safety programs in Bangladesh, as well as to the construction of a new more ethical industryand committed, by compliance and compliance with the terms of the agreement.Pact with which they also commit to expand the scope of application of their terms, and to implement the necessary measures to adopt the correct due diligence in human rights, throughout its entire value chain.Also including between the points of the new agreement, a simplified arbitration process with which it will be sought to expedite the correct fulfillment of its terms.

"Eight years after the mark of the original agreement, with the new international agreement the important, and postponed, step to expand its coverage beyond Bangladesh," explain the NGOs responsible for acting as witnesses of the signing of the agreement."This model, which has saved innumerable lives in Bangladesh, will now be expanded to other countries in which the life of workers continues to endanger newspapers."Therefore, "it is vital that this process is carried out quickly and without reservations, for the benefit of textile workers and the preparation that have been asking for years to improve security measures."