Buyers and retailers in Bangladesh have expressed concern over slow progress on structural remediation in factories where readymade garment (RMG) is assessed by Western retailers' groups. They feel, structural remediation is now being done at a slower pace than that of fire and electrical ones.

Apparel makers, however, blame slow move in detailed engineering assessment (DEA) approval by the retailers' platforms, absence of required engineering firms having experience of conducting DEA and high cost for such a slow progress. In its initial inspection, Accord assessed some 1,600 local garment factories that produce apparel products for its more than 200 signatory members and found more than 80,000 safety hazards.

Accord says, around 966 factories submitted their DEA reports to the group for approval till June 2016 while only 297 got clearance. Only 20 per cent or 3,854 structural issues out of 19,790 have been so far remediated till July last. About 70 per cent and 45 per cent electrical and fire safety hazards respectively have been remediated till July. Another platform of North American-based apparel buyers and companies namely Alliance assessed some 759 garment factories. Some 3,334 structural hazards or nearly 49 per cent out of total identified 6,707 have been fixed in its listed factories till September last.

On the other hand, 11,569 electrical issues out of 16,824 flaws and 8,851 fire hazards out of 14,122 have been remediated, according to Alliance. About 68 per cent and 62 per cent of electrical and fire hazards were remediated respectively, according to Alliance.