Readymade garment factories in Bangladesh continue to be under strict punitive measures like business cut by western retailers and brands due to their non-compliance of workplace safety requirements. So far, more than 228 global apparel buyers, retailers and brands have either suspended or terminated their business relations with around 150 garment factories through their two platforms-Accord and Alliance. While Accord is the group of more than 200 EU based buyers, retailers and trade unions, Alliance represents some 28 apparel buyers and companies based in North America.

Both Accord and Alliance inspected the structural, electrical and fire safety in some 2,000 factories from which their members buy. Each factory is then provided with a CAP designed to help it address safety issues and achieve compliance with their respective safety standards. Recently Accord informed the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) that more than 550 factories are not making the required progress in remedial works. Accord has warned of stalling business relations with those units unless they make required remedial works for ensuring workplace safety and also requested BGMEA to take necessary measures to avert the final stage of business termination, it is informed.

BGMEA vice president Mahmud Hasan Khan says there are few factories that want to rejoin the groups. But many of them currently do not work for the Accord or Alliance signatory members. A good number of factories could not do the remedial works as their units are located in a rented or shared building. Another reason is that they did not get the required financial support to carry out the flaw fixing works.