Over 50 Brands re-sign the New International Accord; 46 Brands Commit to the Bangladesh Safety Agreement

Updates on programs in Pakistan

December 12, 2023

A total of 56 global brands and retailers have so far signed the renewed International Accord, 48 have signed the Bangladesh Safety Agreement and 88 have signed the Pakistan Accord. Multiple brands are in the final stages of internal reviews and are expected to sign the agreements in the coming days. The latest list of signatories is available here.

Brands and trade unions 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. The International Accord will serve as the framework for implementing the Accord’s Country-Specific Safety Programs (CSSPs), currently in Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as any future programs in other garment producing countries. These programs will be implemented through separate agreements as CSSP Addendums to the International Accord.

Additionally, the brands and trade unions finalised the new Bangladesh Safety Agreement to further their efforts in enhancing health and safety within the Bangladeshi garment industry through the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).

Both agreements entered into force on 1 November 2023.

Prior to these two new agreements, in December 2022 Accord signatories decided to establish a new workplace health and safety program called the Pakistan Accord for an initial term of three years starting on 1 January 2023.

We invite all garment and textile brands and retailers sourcing from Bangladesh and Pakistan to join the signatories to these agreements. We encourage you to re-sign the new International Accord, the Bangladesh Safety Agreement, as well as the Pakistan Accord, and reaffirm your commitment to our collective mission of a safe and sustainable textile and garment industry.


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Read the International Accord, Bangladesh Safety Program and Pakistan Accord Agreements

Updates on programs in Pakistan

November 21, 2023

Highlights

  • Negotiations between representatives of global brands and trade union signatories to the International Accord have resulted in a new framework agreement. This agreement reaffirms their commitment to enhancing health and safety throughout the supply chains of the brand signatories.

  • Additionally, both the brands and trade unions finalised a new agreement to further their efforts in enhancing health and safety within the Bangladeshi garment industry through the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).

  • The Pakistan Accord which was signed in January 2023 for a three-year period, will continue as an Addendum to the International Accord.

This post contains an overview of the agreements that form the basis of the Accord’s work in signatory supply chains in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other countries in the future.

International Accord

The International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industry (International Accord) is a legally binding framework agreement between garment brands and trade unions to ensure worker health and safety in the textile and garment industry. The agreement will serve as the framework for implementing the Accord’s Country-Specific Safety Programs (CSSPs), currently in Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as any future programs in other garment producing countries.

The terms of each CSSP will be laid out in the Addendums to the International Accord. The CSSP Addendums build on the core principles, standards and protocols outlined in the International Accord.

Read the International Accord

Bangladesh Safety Program

The Bangladesh Agreement on Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (Bangladesh Safety Program) is an Addendum to the International Accord.

The Bangladesh Safety Program is a legally binding agreement between garment brands and trade unions to ensure worker health and safety in the Bangladeshi textile and garment industry. The signatory parties to Bangladesh Safety Program commit to the principles enshrined in the 2023 International Accord, and as stipulated in the 2013, 2018 and the 2021 Accord agreements on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.

The inspections and remediation program, safety committee and safety training program, safety complaints mechanism, and reporting and disclosure requirements of the Accord will continue to be implemented in Bangladesh by the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), which was established in June 2020.

More information about the origins, scope, key components, and  resources related to the health and safety program in Bangladesh can be found here.

Read the Bangladesh Safety Agreement

Pakistan Accord

In December 2022, Accord signatories agreed to establish a new workplace safety program in Pakistan for an initial term of 3 years, starting in 2023. The resulting agreement is called the Pakistan Accord on Health & Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry (Pakistan Accord) and outlines the envisaged program scope and key provisions to which company signatories commit to. The Pakistan Accord will continue as a CSSP Addendum under the International Accord.

The Pakistan Accord took effect on 1 January 2023 to ensure health and safety in the Pakistani textile and garment industry. Signatories to the Pakistan Accord are committed to fulfilling their obligations as outlined in this agreement until its expiration on 31 December 2025, with the possibility of renewal.

More information about the origins, scope, key components, and  resources related to the Pakistan Accord can be found here.

Read the Pakistan Accord

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First Safety Inspections Under the Pakistan Accord

Updates on programs in Pakistan

November 20, 2023

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:

  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

    • 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.


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Agreement on International Accord Framework for Health and Safety Programs

Updates on programs in Pakistan

November 6, 2023
Download statement (PDF)

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.


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Pakistan Accord: Supplier Briefing #2

August 3, 2023

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


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First Supplier List for Pakistan Accord Signatories

Updates on programs in Pakistan

August 3, 2023

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.

Download the Factory Disclosure Report – Pakistan July 2023


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Report of the Accord pilot safety assessments in Pakistan

Updates on programs in Pakistan

July 11, 2023
Download report (PDF)

The pilot safety assessments were initiated in September 2022 to establish an effective safety inspection and remediation program in Pakistan.

The International Accord is pleased to announce the publication of a report on the pilot safety assessments conducted with factories in Pakistan over the last 8 months.

The International Accord pilot was 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 main objectives of the pilot were:

  1. To gain first-hand information on safety conditions in different types of factories.
  2. To identify the common remediation challenges where support (technical, financial) may be needed.
  3. To do preliminary assessment of engineering capacity to conduct safety inspections and support safety remediation in the industry.

The pilot activities included 1-day safety assessments at 7 garment and textile factories in Karachi and Lahore, meetings with a range of engineering and fire safety experts in Pakistan, and follow-up discussions on remediation feasibility with participating factories.

The report provides an aggregated summary of findings from the safety assessments, giving insight to the potential safety improvements needed in the wider industry. Key areas where measures are needed to ensure minimum life safety standards include:

  • Structural design checks & preparation of accurate building drawings.
  • Fire-separated construction and sufficient protected exit routes to allow safe egress in case of fire.
  • Proper installation & testing of fire alarm & fire suppression systems to ensure full functioning in case of emergency.
  • Electrical system design and installation conforming with code requirements, as well as maintenance & cleaning regimes to prevent electrical hazards.
  • Maintenance and repair of boilers and their associated systems to mitigate the risk of serious accidents.

Factories in the pilot gave feedback that most of the remediation would be feasible and they reported some remediation already underway soon after receiving the reports. However, factories indicated they will need technical guidance on some safety measures, such as correct design of fire systems, and potentially financial support to procure certain equipment.

A consultation with engineering experts in Pakistan found that there is sufficient code knowledge in the engineering community in Pakistan to begin working with factories to remediate safety issues. Nevertheless, clear guidance will be needed on how to remediate existing buildings, which calls for particular experience.

The pilot has given some insight to safety conditions in the garment and textile industry in Pakistan and where suppliers may need most support to meet and maintain safety standards. In addition, it has given the Accord more indication of how to work with various stakeholders to develop an effective safety inspection and remediation program for all factories supplying to Accord signatory companies.

The Accord team is grateful to the suppliers who volunteered to participate in this pilot. We appreciate their enthusiasm to work with the Accord, openness to rigorous safety assessments throughout their facilities, and for providing detailed feedback on remediation progress and challenges, as well as other valuable insights for future Accord safety programs.


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International Accord at the Global Fashion Summit 2023 in Copenhagen

Updates on programs in Pakistan

June 29, 2023

The Global Fashion Summit organised by the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), was held from 27-28 June at the Copenhagen Concert Hall in Denmark.

With the theme Ambition to Action the Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2023 focused on practical examples of sustainable action within the fashion industry. The panel The International Accord: What’s Next? explored the impact and way ahead for the International Accord as one of the leading examples of worker health and safety initiatives within the garment industry against the context of increasing global legislation on supply chain transparency.

The discussion emphasised the vital need for involving workers and local stakeholders while designing tailor made worker health and safety country programs and highlighted the role of the Accord in contributing to safer working conditions within the Bangladeshi garment industry.

Photo credit: GFA

Moderated by Aditi Mayer, Visual Storyteller & Climate Activist, the session included insights from Miran Ali (米然·阿里), Managing Director, Bitopi Group, Michael Bride, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility – Global Affairs, PVH Corp. and Joris Oldenziel, Executive Director, International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry.


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Highlights: The International Accord Secretariat and signatory brands visit Pakistan

Updates on programs in Pakistan

June 13, 2023

A delegation of the International Accord Secretariat and Accord signatory brands had a fruitful visit to Pakistan from 23 May to 3 June 2023.

The team attended a 3-day TEXPO hosted by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and engaged with a range of stakeholders including manufacturers, buyers, and international delegates.

Additionally, the ILO organised an event titled Textile and Ready-Made Garment Industry Forum on 25 May, where Joris Oldenziel, Executive Director of the International Accord was among the panelists. During the event, he highlighted the significance of the Pakistan Accord as a potential contributor to improving compliance with health and safety standards within the Pakistani textile and garment industry. He added that the Pakistan Accord could contribute to increasing exports and provide opportunities to attract buyers exploring markets with adequately monitored workplace safety conditions.

On the sidelines of the ILO forum and TEXPO, the International Accord team and representatives of Kik, Aldi, and Otto also had formal and informal meetings with key stakeholders including suppliers, industry associations sourcing agents, government departments, academia, fire and safety services and safety experts to discuss various aspects of the Pakistan Accord.

The International Accord appreciates the openness and commitment among Pakistani stakeholders to improving workplace safety through national and international initiatives and are encouraged by the assurances of further engagements to implement the Pakistan Accord. The Accord Secretariat will continue engaging and further strengthening the partnership with Pakistani stakeholders to improve the understanding of the Pakistan Accord.

60 international brands and retailers representing over USD 2 billion in export value have now signed the Pakistan Accord. These brands source from over 500 suppliers in Pakistan.

The Secretariat appreciates the efforts of the Pakistani Government, industry, social sector, and stakeholders including the ILO and GIZ aimed at contributing to enhancing the country’s sustainability performance in the global textile and garment sector. A big thank you to all those who welcomed the team and extended their warm hospitality.


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200 brands sign the International Accord to ensure worker safety in the garment industry

Updates on programs in Pakistan

May 29, 2023

200 global brands and retailers have now signed the International Accord since it took effect in September 2021.

A total of 200 brands and retailers have now signed the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry since it came into effect on September 1, 2021. These brands cover around 1700 factories and 1.8 million workers in Bangladesh. View the full list of International Accord signatories here.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the milestone of reaching 200 signatories and are inspired by the growing number of brands and retailers joining the International Accord, showing the widespread commitment to worker safety in the textile and garment industry. The Accord Secretariat looks forward to continuing our collaboration with all signatories as we strive towards creating a safer textile and garment industry,” said Joris Oldenziel, Executive Director of the International Accord Foundation.

The International Accord is a legally binding agreement between garment brands and global trade unions, IndustriALL Global Union, and UNI Global Union, with a mission to ensure safe workplaces in the textile and garment industry. The agreement promotes worker safety through independent inspections, remediation, and training programs and recognises the rights of workers to organise, refuse unsafe work and raise health and safety concerns. The International Accord enables the collective efforts of brands and retailers to ensure safe workplaces.

As we reach 200 signatories, we encourage more garment and textile brands to sign the International Accord and the Pakistan Accord to work collectively for a safer garment and textile industry.


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