300 global garment brands and retailers have signed the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (International Accord) with global unions, IndustriALL and UNI, marking the highest number of signatories for any Accord agreement to date.

These signatory brands are headquartered across 26 countries and annually source goods worth approximately USD $26 billion from Bangladesh and Pakistan. Collectively, the Accord brands source from over 2,000 factories with over 3.4 million workers in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The International Accord was renewed in 2023 as a framework agreement for a three-year term, with automatic renewal for an additional three years, making it the longest commitment in the Accord’s history.

It builds upon the 2013 and 2018 Accords on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, as well as the 2021 International Accord, each of which progressively expanded its scope and commitments.

The International Accord is a legally binding agreement between global brands and trade unions, to create and maintain garment factories where no worker fears fires, building collapses or other accidents that can be prevented with reasonable health and safety measures.

It promotes worker health and safety through factory inspections to identify risks; remediation to implement life-saving improvements; worker safety training to raise awareness of workers’ rights, responsibilities, and health and safety risks; and a trusted Complaints Mechanism for workers to raise health and safety concerns.

The Accord Secretariat thanks all brands, trade unions and civil society organisations who have made this milestone possible. We look forward to welcoming even more brands as we continue working together towards a safer textile and garment industry.

Watch this video message from our Executive Director, Joris Oldenziel, to learn how Accord signatories and their suppliers ensure workplace safety, what factory improvements have been made so far, and why worker health and safety remains a priority.