First Safety Inspections Under the Pakistan Accord
Accord
The International Accord conducted the first round of initial inspections at factories supplying to Pakistan Accord brands in Lahore and Karachi between 16 – 28 October 2023. These initial inspections mark a significant milestone in the rollout of the Pakistan Accord on Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (Pakistan Accord) that was established as a new country program under the International Accord in January 2023.
The team, comprising engineers from Arup and representatives from the International Accord, including Danielle Antonellis (Technical Advisor, Pakistan Accord), Brad Loewen (Technical Consultant & Former Chief Safety Inspector of the Bangladesh Accord), assessed fire, electrical and structural safety these supplier factories, based on the Pakistan Accord Building Standard. Zulfiqar Shah (Consultant, Pakistan Accord) and Veronique Camerer (Head of Policy & Accountability, International Accord) joined the team of engineers and conducted side meetings with a number of key local stakeholders.
Participating Factories
The inspections were conducted at four new facilities and four facilities that were part of the pilot safety assessments conducted between November and December 2022. These participating factories demonstrated commitment to ensuring workplace safety, receptiveness to feedback, and preparedness throughout the initial inspection process. These facilities included: E&M Textiles, Mount Fuji Textiles Ltd., Kings Apparel Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Taiga Apparels, Denim Clothing Company, Fashion Knit Industries, Lucky Textile Mills Limited amongst others. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with these factories and their contribution to ensuring health and safety in the textile and garment industry.
Support from Brands
The Accord brands sourcing from these factories participated actively in the process by communicating their support for the Pakistan Accord and explaining the importance of their suppliers’ participation in the Accord program for continuing their business relationship. Multiple Accord brand representatives also participated in the inspections as observers.
The Inspection Process
Each factory inspection lasted between 1-2 days based on the size and number of buildings and included the following steps:
- Opening meeting with factory owner and technical staff: Introductions & interview with the factory owner
- An overview of the Pakistan Accord program, the process towards developing inspection reports and corrective action plans.
- Review of pre-inspection questionnaire and documentation, such as engineering drawings, Building Permits, calculations, material and systems tests and any reports from previous assessments
- Scheduling & coordination of the fire alarm test
- Inspection of the building exterior and all interior rooms and spaces: 3 separate teams (fire, electrical, structural) inspected the building and assessed fire and building safety of all rooms and spaces.
- Testing: The teams carried out testing as required e.g., ferro-scanning (measuring rebar size in concrete structures), Schmidt Hammer test (measuring concrete strength), thermographic scanning (to identify electrical hotspots). The engineering team also requested the factory team to operate the fire alarm and fire pump systems.
- Closing meeting: Discussion between the Accord team and factory on main observations & next steps.
Next Steps
- Inspection reports will be prepared by the engineers and shared with the factory and Accord brands in 4-6 weeks, varying by complexity.
- Post-inspection meetings with the factories to discuss findings and remediation.
- Development of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) with the support of Accord brands.
- CAP publication on the Accord website.
Background
Under the Pakistan Accord, all factories supplying to brand signatories will be inspected by independent engineers specialised in fire, structural, electrical, and boiler safety. These engineers assess the factories’ compliance with the Pakistan Accord Building Standard and produce reports of the safety hazards they identify at factories.
The scope of these safety inspections is as follows:
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- Fire safety: to assess the adequacy of fire prevention, fire containment, early warning systems, and safe egress in case of fire.
- Structural safety: to assess the adequacy of engineering assessments, comparison of design drawings with the actual building, and adequacy of load management plans.
- Electrical safety: to assess the adequacy of cabling and wiring in the factory, capacity of staff to maintain electrical safety, risk or occurrence of hotspots, and fire risk from accumulation of dust and lint around electrical components.
- Hazardous Materials: to assess the use, storage, and handling of chemicals or substances that are classified as a physical hazard material or a health hazard material, whether the chemical or substance is in usable or waste condition.
- Boiler safety: to assess the external and internal condition, installation configuration, and safety monitoring system of each boiler in the factory. Boiler inspections will begin once adequate local capacity to conduct such inspections is achieved.
Resources
Related updates
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
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Agreement on International Accord Framework for Health and Safety Programs
Global brands and trade unions have renewed the International Accord to enhance health and safety in supply chains in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other countries in the future.
Statement
Amsterdam, 6 November 2023 [updated on 20 November]:
Negotiations between representatives of international textile retailers and the global trade union signatories to the International Accord on Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry have culminated in an agreement that reaffirms their commitment to enhancing health and safety throughout the supply chains of the brand signatories.
Brands and trade unions have renewed their commitments for an extended three-year term, with an automatic renewal of another three years making it the longest Accord commitment to date.
This new iteration of the International Accord takes effect on 1 November 2023.
This enduring commitment reflects the conviction of the brand and trade union signatories in the Accord’s impact on workplace health and safety through independent factory inspections, remediation, safety training, and an effective worker complaints mechanism.
The renewed International Accord is a legally binding framework agreement under which Country-Specific Safety Programs (CSSPs) will be implemented in Pakistan and through the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) in Bangladesh, with the provision to develop future health and safety programs in other major garment-producing countries based on feasibility and expansion criteria.
Key new features of the International Accord framework include:
- An international framework:
(a) committing to expanding the health and safety work progressively in the coming years to other countries, based on feasibility studies and successful progress made in the existing country programs;
(b) considering a future expansion of the scope of the worker complaints mechanism beyond health and safety in CSSPs; and
(c) outlining the key signatory obligations and principles upon which country programs will be built. The details of the country programs will be outlined in Addendums to the International Accord agreement.- Participating brands shall sign both the International Accord framework agreement and the relevant CSSP agreements they choose to participate in.
- The Pakistan Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (Pakistan Accord), which was signed in January 2023, will continue as an Addendum to the International Accord.
Negotiations for the new Bangladesh CSSP agreement concluded on 6 November. This agreement will continue the signatories’ commitments to the health and safety program in Bangladesh through the RSC as stipulated in a separate Bangladesh Safety Agreement available to read here.
The new International Accord will continue to build on the strong principles and approach that made the Accord effective. This includes factory inspections and remediation, safety training, worker awareness programs, a credible independent worker complaints mechanism, respect for freedom of association, independent administration and implementation, a high level of transparency, and provisions ensuring financially feasible remediation.
The International Accord Secretariat will support signatories in implementing the agreement and monitor signatory compliance with the International Accord agreement and its country Addendums.
Brands and retailers will be invited to sign the International Accord and the Bangladesh agreement from 20 November onwards. Brands sourcing from Pakistan that have not signed the Pakistan Accord yet are encouraged to sign as soon as possible.
The Accord encourages all garment and textile companies to sign this renewed framework agreement and join our collective goal of safe and sustainable textile and garment industry.
The International Accord Secretariat will announce the initial signatories to the International Accord and the Bangladesh program in the first week of December 2023.
Download the full text of the International Accord here.
For more information, contact:
- media@internationalaccord.org
- Mini Dixit, Communications Advisor: mini.dixit@internationalaccord.org
Related updates
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
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The evolution of brand-union collaboration under the Accord
Accord
2023 marks 10 years since the first Accord Agreement was signed. To recognise this important milestone, we shine the spotlight on reflections from various Accord stakeholders on the progress, challenges, and way ahead on enhancing worker health and safety within the textile and garment industry. The views expressed in this post are of the interviewees and may not reflect those of the Accord Secretariat.
In conversation with:
Felicity Tapsell, BESTSELLER
Felicity is the Head of Responsible Sourcing at BESTSELLER. She has been a brand representative on the Accord Steering Committee member since May 2021 and serves on the Board of Directors of the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).
Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL
Christina is IndustriALL’s Director for the Textile, Garment, Shoe and Leather Sector. She has been a Steering Committee member since October 2015 and serves on special Working Groups related to factory remediation and Human Rights Due Diligence.
Share
The Accord is a legally binding agreement between over 200 brands and two global unions, UNI and IndustriALL who have jointly made significant strides in worker health and safety in the textile and garment industry over the past decade. The shared responsibility and joint efforts of brands and trade unions have fostered a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in worker safety. In this post, two of the Accord’s longstanding Steering Committee members, BESTSELLER and IndustriALL, discuss the nature, impact, and way forward for collaboration between brands and unions.
What has changed about the nature of collaboration between brands and unions since the Accord?
Felicity: The Accord has been a groundbreaking initiative that created a platform for collaboration between brands and unions to work together towards the common goal of improving workplace safety. One of the main changes since the start of the Accord, is that there is now a greater understanding of the importance of worker empowerment and engagement in the garment supply chain. As an industry, brands have realised that working with NGO’s, relevant stakeholders, trade unions and other worker representatives is essential to creating responsibly managed, safer, and more ethical supply chains. As a result, many brands have started to incorporate worker engagement into their due diligence processes, and I think today, there is a much stronger relationship between brands and these stakeholders.
Christina: Over the past 10 years the collaboration between the brands and trade unions in the Accord has matured through our continued social dialogue, joint governance, and the three rounds of negotiations for renewed Accord agreements in 2013, 2018, and 2021. I would say that in the beginning there was a lack of understanding from the brands about the role of trade unions in the supply chain. This was a challenge that needed to be overcome to develop true social dialogue. Today, the relationship has developed into true supply chain industrial relations.
What is the tangible impact of the change in collaboration?
Felicity: In our supply chain specifically, we have seen tangible improvements in worker safety, such as the installation of fire alarms, fire exits, and the provision of personal protective equipment. We have also seen the development of a more diligent workplace safety culture on factory floors – where both workers and management are equipped with the knowledge and skills, they need to keep themselves safe.
At the brand level, the Accord has helped to raise the bar for responsible sourcing practices in terms of fire, electrical and structural safety in the garment industry. Brands are now expected to take a more active role in ensuring that their suppliers are meeting international labor standards, and there is greater pressure on brands to be transparent about their supply chains, promoting greater accountability and responsible practices throughout the industry.
Christina:The development of a stronger joint monitoring system to ensure that signatory brands enable the factories to remediate is an example of better collaboration. In 2017, the Steering Committee developed a program to identify brands that needed assistance in ensuring remediation. These brands were matched with brands that had solid systems in place. Together with the trade unions, the “buddy” brand, and brand in need of assistance, this program assisted many brands in assisting factories to reach compliance on outstanding issues.
What do you foresee for the future of collaboration between brands and unions?
Felicity: I believe that this collaboration will continue to grow in importance as more brands recognise the critical role that unions play in protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that suppliers are meeting international labor standards. Beyond due diligence, I hope that this model of collaboration at a national level will be used to address other industry issues. The Accord and RSC’s, tripartite structure, which incorporate the voice of international and national trade unions, industry, and fashion brands, has illustrated that significant progress can be achieved if we work collectively to create a more safe and ethically managed supply chain.
Collaboration between brands and unions will continue to be essential in driving industry-wide change. Continuing this joint effort, we can create a level playing field where all brands are held accountable for their actions, workers’ rights are respected, and the industry is supported.
Christina: I believe that the work that has taken place under the International Accord Article 40 has positioned the next round of negotiations this year to be able to expand the agreement to beyond health and safety. This article reads: ‘The parties to the Agreement will explore the expansion of the scope to address human rights due diligence. The SC shall create a Working Group to explore this possibility, with the understanding that brand participation in any such expansion will not be required under this agreement.’ I hope that the trade unions and brands can jointly expand the current worker grievance mechanism to cover other important worker rights issues.
Would you like to share your perspective on workplace safety in the textile and garment industry as an Accord stakeholder? Email us at media@internationalaccord.org
Related updates
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
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Pakistan Accord: Supplier Briefing #2
Supplier Briefing #2
These Supplier Briefings are designed for all factories/suppliers listed by Pakistan Accord signatory brands. They include updates on key developments under the Pakistan Accord, along with information on upcoming events, guidance materials, and resources for suppliers.
We encourage all suppliers/factories covered by the Pakistan Accord to read these briefings regularly and to share their recommendations, ideas, and suggestions by contacting us via pakistan.factories@internationalaccord.org.
This briefing includes updates on:
- Number of Signatory Brands, Covered Factories
- Findings from the Accord Pilot in Pakistan
- Upcoming resources and events
Number of Signatory Brands and Covered Factories
At the time of writing this briefing, over 65 brands sourcing clothing and textiles from Pakistan have signed the Pakistan Accord, thereby committing to work with their suppliers to ensure workplace safety.
The Pakistan Accord company signatories are headquartered in 17 countries, spanning Europe, Turkey, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, and Japan, and include some of the world’s largest clothing brands and retailers. Collectively, these companies source over US$2.5 billion worth of goods from more than 400 suppliers in Pakistan.
Signatory companies have recently disclosed their factory lists to the Accord, including data that will inform the selection of priority factories for initial inspections according to safety risks and leverage criteria.
Findings from Accord Pilot
The International Accord pilot safety assessments were initiated in September 2022 with the goal of understanding the key considerations for establishing an effective safety inspection and remediation program with garment and textile suppliers in Pakistan. The pilot included safety assessments at seven garment and textile factories in Karachi and Lahore, along with follow-up discussions on remediation feasibility with the participating factories.
A report summarising findings from these pilot safety assessments is now available here. The key areas of improvement for ensuring worker health and safety highlighted within the pilot report include:
- Structural design checks and preparation of accurate building drawings.
- Fire-separated construction and protected exit routes to allow safe egress in case of fire.
- Proper installation and testing of fire alarm and fire suppression systems to ensure full functioning in case of emergency.
- Electrical system design and installation conforming with code requirements, as well as maintenance and cleaning regimes to prevent electrical hazards.
- Maintenance and repair of boilers and associated systems to avoid the risk of serious accidents.
Pakistan Accord Building Standard
In recent months, the International Accord has worked with the former Chief Safety Inspector of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, Brad Loewen, to review Pakistani building codes and develop a draft factory safety standard for the Pakistan Accord, covering electrical, fire, structural, and boiler safety.
In May 2023, the International Accord team met with engineering and building code experts in Pakistan for consultation on key details in the Standard. These experts will review the latest draft of the Pakistan Accord Building Standard (Standard) in the coming weeks.
The Accord intends to finalise and publish the Standard by the end of August 2023. Factories covered under the Pakistan Accord will subsequently be inspected against this finalised Standard.
Upcoming: New Information Pack for Suppliers
Following requests from industry representatives in recent meetings, the Accord has developed an Information Pack for Suppliers to share all relevant information about the Pakistan Accord in one place. This information pack will be circulated in the coming weeks and includes:
- A summary detailing the objectives, scope, and programs under the Pakistan Accord.
- Inforgraphic on a factory’s journey through Accord programs.
- Benefits of participating in Accord programs.
- A summary of the Implementation Plan.
- Supplier FAQs with answers to the commonly asked questions from suppliers.
Upcoming Events
Launch of the Pakistan Accord Building Standard
Resources
Stay in Touch
Related updates
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
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First Supplier List for Pakistan Accord Signatories
Accord
The Accord Secretariat has published the first list of suppliers covered under the Pakistan Accord as of 25 July 2023. The Factory Disclosure Report for Pakistan provides an overview of the names, addresses, storeys, production processes, number of workers, and the number of signatory brands sourcing from each factory.
This list comprises information on over 400 factories supplying 52 Pakistan Accord signatory brands, and it is expected to grow further as more recent signatories disclose their supplier information in the coming days.
The Accord will publish an updated list of suppliers monthly across the Transparency & Accountability and Factories pages of this website.
Resources:
Related updates
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
On 26 and 27 November 2024 the Pakistan Accord conducted its inaugural safety training meeting in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by all employees of the factory.
This briefing includes updates on the number of signatory brands and covered factories, brand-supplier meetings, new Pakistan Accord office and the capacity building program in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Accord Secretariat hosted a briefing on the rollout of Workplace Programs on August 19, 2024, in Karachi.
Follow us on social media