On Thursday, April 24, the world marks twelve years since the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, where at least 1,138 garment workers lost their lives. Despite early promises from global fashion brands to reform supply chains, meaningful progress has mostly relied on binding agreements like the Bangladesh Accord. Clean Clothes Campaign is urging brands to move beyond empty pledges and adopt enforceable commitments.
The tragedy exposed deep-rooted structural issues in the garment industry poverty wages, unsafe conditions, and suppression of union rights. Brands initially responded with sweeping promises, like H&M’s pledge for living wages within five years. Yet, wages remain insufficient, and workers still face intimidation when organizing for better pay.
While the Accord has improved factory safety, some brands including Amazon, IKEA, and Walmart continue to rely on ineffective self-monitoring or avoid participation altogether. Furthermore, recent governance shifts under the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) and labor code amendments have weakened safety oversight at the factory level, prompting fresh concerns from labor leaders.
New challenges, such as climate-related risks like heat stress and flooding, make the Accord's proactive expansion even more critical. Injury compensation remains limited, although the Employment Injury Scheme pilot launched in 2022 marks a key step forward.
Minimum wage reforms in recent years have failed, leading to mass protests and violent crackdowns. Despite some legal victories, many workers still face unresolved charges. Labor leaders argue that only binding wage commitments and robust union protections will ensure real change.
As the European Union’s landmark Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive faces threats of dilution, activists warn that without strong legal mandates, the systemic abuse that led to Rana Plaza remains dangerously unaddressed. They call on both global brands and Bangladesh’s interim government to prioritize workers’ rights through enforceable legislation.
