Bangladesh

A decade of progress in workplace safety in Bangladesh

Continued collaboration with brands and their suppliers to maintain safe garment and textile factories.

Origins in Bangladesh

In 2013, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh started as a 5-year agreement to pursue workplace safety in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh. The agreement was initially signed by 40 brands and retailers, 2 global trade unions, IndustriALL Global Union & UNI Global Union, and 8 Bangladesh trade unions in the immediate aftermath of the April 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse that killed more than 1,000 workers and critically injured thousands more.

2018 Transition Accord

By July 2015, the number of Accord company signatories had risen to 220 and by May 2018, the joint efforts of Accord stakeholders had significantly contributed to safer workplaces for over 2 million garment factory workers in Bangladesh.

To maintain and expand 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 Accord lasted 3 years and included a commitment to transition the implementation of Accord programs to a national tripartite organisation now known as the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).

2021 International Accord

In 2021 the Accord signatories renewed their partnership and established the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry. This agreement confirms the continued commitment of signatories to support workplace safety programs in Bangladesh through cooperation with the RSC and further commits to establishing workplace safety programs in other countries based on the outcome of feasibility studies. Over 175 company signatories signed the International Accord in the first year of this agreement with an additional commitment to exploring the scope of the agreement to address Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) issues in the textile and garment industry.

Status of factories

The RMG Sustainability Council (RSC)

Purpose

The RMG Sustainability Council (RSC)is an independent, national, and tri-partite safety monitoring organisation for the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh. On 1 June 2020, the RSC inherited the operations, staff, policies, and infrastructure of the local Bangladesh Accord office. Signatories to the International Accord have agreed to fulfil their commitments in Bangladesh through their participation in the RSC. The Secretariat in Amsterdam supports, coordinates, and liaises with the RSC to ensure that the brand obligations under the Accord agreement are fulfilled.

Governance

The RSC is a tri-partite organisation governed by brands and retailers, trade unions, and manufacturing associations. Its Board of Directors consists of 18 representatives, 6 from each RSC member organisation.

Programs

The RSC continues to implement the safety inspections and remediation program, safety committee and safety training program, and the complaints mechanism previously implemented by the Accord in Bangladesh.

Visit the RSC Website

Cooperation between the RSC and International Accord

> 190

BRANDS

> 1500

FACTORIES

> 2 million

WORKERS

Status of factories in Accord programs

Filter

Search here for inspection reports, Corrective Action Plans, and training status of every Accord covered factory.

Remediation Status

Remediation Progress Rate

Training program status

Workers
1009
Progress Rate
97%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=23383
Workers
1374
Progress Rate
100%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=24282
Workers
1042
Progress Rate
95%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=23661
Workers
1700
Progress Rate
70%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=12894
Workers
1122
Progress Rate
71%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=24453
Workers
1256
Progress Rate
98%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=23532
Workers
1015
Progress Rate
95%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=12105
Workers
1850
Progress Rate
100%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=23834
Workers
10
Progress Rate
97%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=12654
Workers
707
Progress Rate
98%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=11059
Workers
1075
Progress Rate
83%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=24178
Workers
800
Progress Rate
94%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=11795
Workers
8281
Progress Rate
100%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=9276
Workers
990
Progress Rate
90%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=12872
Workers
549
Progress Rate
95%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=10043
Workers
683
Progress Rate
89%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=9665
Workers
886
Progress Rate
100%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=9786
Workers
1800
Progress Rate
98%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=12888
Workers
1105
Progress Rate
100%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=9714
Workers
2650
Progress Rate
100%
https://accord2.fairfactories.org/web/Audits/Audits/DownloadCAPFile?id=11980

Updates on programs in Bangladesh

RSC: Status of the Safety and Health Complaints Mechanism in Bangladesh

An overview of complaints received through the RSC Occupational Safety and Health Complaints Mechanism. The RSC implements the complaints mechanism in Bangladesh.


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RSC: Status of Safety Remediation in Bangladesh

View the progress & completion rates of safety remediation at factories supplying to Accord signatories. The RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) implements the inspections and remediation program since June 2020.


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RSC: Status of Inspections program in Bangladesh

View the status of the inspections program in Bangladesh implemented by the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).


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