Fashion brands called out not to sign Pakistan Safety Accord

The Clean Wear Campaign said more than 30 brands joined the Pakistan Accord when the registration process began on January 16, 2023, including major fashion brands such as H&M, PVHAnd ASOShowever according to him the launch speed stalled quickly.

It stated that six months had passed and 63 brands had signed agreements, covering hundreds of factories, but that some major buyers were still missing.

The Pakistan Accord is modeled on the International Safety Accord which is best known for its work in transforming the workplace for millions of garment workers in Bangladesh.

The organization said the International Accord had succeeded in improving factory safety for 2.5 million workers in Bangladesh. However, garment workers in Pakistan “still have to wait for similar improvements to happen as brands take their time to commit to agreements”.

Including brands called out for not signing the Pakistan Deal Levi’s, Office Brand (Lee, Wrangler), AmazonsAnd decathlonall of which it claims still need to sign an International Agreement in Bangladesh, even though it was the 10th anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory, which led to its introduction.

The Clean Clothes Campaign also named several brands that have previously shown a commitment to safety in Bangladesh and are said to be major buyers in Pakistan. This includes Boo hoo, Very Group, Lidl, Wrong way, Target Australia, Spirit, Lowand Fruit Weaving Tools.

Neither of the brands responded to Just Style’s request for comment at the time of publication, but it should be noted that Target Australia is part of the Kmart Group which is a signatory to the Accord and is Australia’s first retailer. to register with the Bangladesh Accord.

Clean Clothes Campaign international coordinator Ineke Zeldenrust said: By signing the Pakistan Accord, brands and retailers are committed to ensuring factories in Pakistan’s supply chain are made safe. This requires active support for programs and suppliers, including meeting obligations to ensure that remediation is financially feasible for mills to undertake. Brands must reflect their commitment to manufacturer safety in the price they pay the manufacturer to make actual repairs possible.

Zehra Khan, General Secretary of the Federation of Women Home Workers added: Workers in Pakistan have been waiting for quite a while. The solutions exist, but some brands are still risking workers’ lives and running away from their responsibilities. We call on brands and retailers to start speeding up operations and making participation in the Pakistan Accord a top priority.

Meanwhile Nasir Mansoor, general secretary of the National Federation of Trade Unions in Pakistan said: We need all the brands producing in Pakistan to sign the Agreement immediately. And, once a brand is signed on, they can’t sit back and relax. Only after inspections begin and workers can file complaints will the risk of a fire or subsequent factory collapse really begin to decrease.

The Clean Clothes Campaign said a fire and collapse at the Usman & Sons factory in April highlighted the consequences of delayed action and claims labels by French supermarket chain Auchan were found in the wreckage.

The Clean Clothes Campaign said the company signed the 2013 and 2018 Agreements but failed to sign the 2021 International Agreement and Pakistan Agreement.

Auchan had not responded to Just Style’s request for comment at press time.