About us
Working with brands, factories, and workers for a safer garment and textile industry
We recognise that safe workplaces cannot be ensured without worker participation in the journey to a safer garment and textile industry. Through the involvement of brands, trade unions, factories, and workers in the textile and garment supply chain, the International Accord pursues three main goals:
Where it all began
The International Accord originated as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh in 2013. This 5-year agreement was established to improve building safety and address the prevalence of accidents in Bangladesh’s textile and garment industry. It was initially signed by 40 brands and retailers, two global trade unions—IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union—and eight Bangladeshi trade unions, following the Rana Plaza building collapse in April 2013 that claimed the lives of over 1,138 workers and left thousands more seriously injured. The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the Workers’ Rights Consortium (WRC) played pivotal roles in advocating for the Accord and have been active as expert observers and witness signatories on the Accord’s Steering Committee since its inception. Over time, the Accord garnered more support, with over 220 brands and retailers eventually signing the agreement during this iteration.
To maintain the achievements of the 2013 Accord, over 190 brands and retailers renewed their commitments by signing the 2018 Transition Accord with the global trade unions. The 2018 Transition Accord lasted 3 years and included a commitment to transition the implementation of Accord programs to a national tripartite organisation governed by brands and retailers, trade unions, and manufacturing associations, now known as the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).
In 2021 the Accord signatories reached a new phase in their partnership and established the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry.
With this agreement, signatories committed to continue supporting workplace safety programs in Bangladesh through the RSC and to establish workplace safety programs in other countries according to the outcome of feasibility studies. The 2021 International Accord contains the same components that underpinned the success of the earlier Accords, including respect for freedom of association, independent administration and implementation, a high level of transparency, provisions to ensure remediation is financially feasible, Safety Committee training and worker awareness program, and an independent complaints mechanism.
Over 180 company signatories signed the International Accord in the first year of this agreement.
Key milestones
15 May 2013
Over 40 companies, 2 global unions and 8 Bangladesh trade unions sign the 5-year Accord Agreement
September 2013
Bangladesh office set up in Dhaka
December 2013
Engineers conduct 10 pilot factory inspections
February 2014
Secretariat set up in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
February 2014-August 2014
Engineers conduct initial fire, electrical & structural inspections at over 1,000 factories
July 2015
Accord company signatories reach the 200 mark
June 2017
Trade unions and brands negotiate the 2018 Transition Accord agreement
October 2017
Accord, Government of Bangladesh and Bangladesh industry representatives reach a Memorandum of Understanding to continue Bangladesh Accord operations until a national body is ready to take over
1 June 2018
A renewed 3-year Transition Accord comes into effect with 173 company signatories
May 2019
Accord and Bangladesh manufacturers association agree on the transition of Accord operations to the new tri-partite labour-brands-industry RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) by 1 June 2020
February 2020
The 2018 Transition Accord reaches 196 brand signatories
1 June 2020
All Accord staff and operations in Bangladesh transition to the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC). The Accord Secretariat in the Netherlands continues to support and monitor implementation of the Transition Accord
1 September 2021
A 2-year International Accord Agreement comes into effect with 77 company signatories committed to expand safety programs to at least one other country
September 2021 – ongoing
Accord Secretariat conduct feasibility studies for expansion
May 2022
175 companies have signed up to the 2021 International Accord
November 2022
The International Accord begins pilot inspections in Pakistan
14 December 2022
International Accord signatories announce their intention to establish an Accord program in Pakistan
1 January 2023
Pakistan Accord on Health & Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry comes into effect
5 January 2023
Accord signatories form Human Rights Due Diligence Working Group
24 April 2023
10 years since the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh
15 May 2023
A decade of workplace health and safety under the Accord
29 May 2023
200 brands sign the 2021 International Accord
3 August 2023
First supplier list published for Pakistan Accord signatories
6 November 2023
Agreement on International Accord Framework and Bangladesh Safety Agreement
20 November 2023
First safety inspections under Pakistan Accord
12 December 2023
Over 50 brands re-sign the 2023 International Accord; 46 brands commit to the Bangladesh Safety Agreement
24 January 2024
Over 100 brands sign the Bangladesh Safety Agreement
25 January 2024
100 global brands and retailers commit to the Pakistan Accord
March 2024
New Pakistan Accord office in Karachi, Pakistan
March 2024
Training begins for newly recruited staff under the Pakistan Accord
March 2024
Second round of initial inspections under the Pakistan Accord
The International Accord is governed by a Steering Committee with equal representation of the signatory companies and trade unions, including national and international representatives. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) provides a neutral Chair and the witness signatories are the expert observers for the Steering Committee.
Transparency and accountability form the backbone of advancing workplace safety. Provisions such as full factory disclosure, public reports, an escalation procedure, and a complaints mechanism for workers ensure that signatories and factories remain transparent and accountable throughout the garment supply chain.
The International Accord Secretariat in Amsterdam oversees the implementation of the Accord agreement and supports signatories in fulfilling their commitments.
Discover the latest news stories and reports related to the International Accord. For any media queries and stories on the Accord programs get in touch with the International Accord Secretariat.
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