Amsterdam, 08 August 2024: 

In view of the complex political situation in Bangladesh, the International Accord makes the following statement in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh.

The International Accord is deeply concerned about the breakdown in law and order and the ensuing violence in Bangladesh and its impact on the two million workers in Accord-covered factories and our partners in the RMG industry.

It is not possible at this stage to assess the impact current events will have on the RMG industry given the rapidly changing situation. In these uncertain times, the International Accord calls on all signatories of the Bangladesh Safety Agreement^[1] to stand by their Bangladeshi industry partners with patience in order to support the economic future of the country.

We urge all signatories to:

• Uphold the letter and the spirit of the commitments made to maintain a long-term sourcing relationship with Bangladesh.
• Actively engage with your suppliers to work together and address challenges related to production targets, order deliveries and the safety and health of workers.
• Continue supporting the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) throughout this challenging period.

In addition, we have also learnt of, as yet unverified, reports of vandalism and fires at some RMG factories in Bangladesh. Any safety incidents at covered factories will be investigated by the RSC in accordance with their operating procedures, to the extent possible under the circumstances.

The International Accord will work to the best of its ability, together with colleagues from the RSC, Accord brands,  trade unions, witness signatories and industry, to provide ongoing support and ensure that commitments made on safety and health protections are upheld. These include upholding the right to refuse unsafe work, maintaining regular income during any period a factory is closed for safety reasons, and avoiding excessive working hours to make up for production delays.

The International Accord hopes that Bangladesh quickly returns to a state of political and social stability and that we can continue our collective journey towards a safe and sustainable RMG industry in Bangladesh.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Bangladesh.

^[1] The Bangladesh Safety Agreement is a Country-Specific Safety Program that is an addendum to the International Accord framework agreement and has been signed by 201 garment brands and retailers.

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