Bangladesh Alliance for Worker Safety group says it has now closed or partially closed 19 factories due to safety concerns.
"The worst buildings that pose the greatest risk are not so bad on the outside," says Ian Spaulding, Senior Advisor Alliance led by North American group Bangladesh Worker Safety.
The Alliance led by North America to Bangladesh Worker Safety, including Hudson's Bay Company and Canadian Tire, says that now is closed or partially closed 19 factories in the country due to security concerns.
The Alliance, which represents 27 major brands operating in Bangladesh, was formed after the devastating disaster Rana Factory Square, which killed nearly 1,129 people on April 24, 2013, and wounded thousands more.
He began an inspection program in garment factories in which they operate 600 major brands, for structural or electrical faults and fire safety concerns. The results of the inspection reports are published on the website of the Alliance.
Rana Plaza was originally built to be a complex six-story shopping center, but was later turned into clothing factories multistory loaded with heavy machinery on the upper floors of the building structurally unsound. Bangladesh has filed charges against 17 people in connection with the illegal conversion of the building.
After the fall, the practice of fashion houses that use cheap labor in dangerous buildings came under intense international scrutiny and the pressure was on the part of consumers to improve conditions.
Ian Spaulding, the consultant and public speaker Alliance, said the most disturbing discovery was buildings that do not meet the standards of the code in the load levels per floor.
"The worst buildings that pose the greatest risk are not so bad on the outside," said Spaulding, who was in Toronto to participate in the Global Round Table Ethical Apparel takes place two days in the brickwork.
When the inspectors take a closer look, however, problems as "highly stressed columns" and "cracks in beams and beam joints," are.
Last April, the Alliance recommends RSI Garments Ltd. in Chittagong immediately closed due to structural problems. RSI was closed and all 340 workers were paid 50 percent of their salary for two months, or $ 26.220 (US) in total, according to the inspection report.
Safety concerns found in other buildings include the lack of sprinklers and fire doors and faulty wiring. The Alliance has also launched a helpline for workers, by a third party, so that garment workers can anonymously report concerns.
As a result of the 19 closures or partial closures, the Alliance has offset 2,500 garment workers, while repairs are carried out, to the tune of $ 200,000 (US).
The Alliance, which has agreed to operate in Bangladesh for five years, lends money to factories to carry out security updates. If construction risks are not fixed, the big brands will not do business with factories.
Last September, VF Corporation - owner of popular brands The North Face, Wrangler, Vans and Nautica - started a (US) $ 10 million fund in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group to provide up to $ 10 million in funding for improvements Bangladeshi factories.
"The loans are fully guaranteed by VF - if a factory does not pay back, VF is on the hook," Spaulding said.
Last month, the Agreement on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh - an effort led by European group of 189 major brands including Primark and Loblaw - 80,000 reported finding safety hazards in factories in 1106 it inspected.
In 17 building inspections, the inspections Accord discovered the structural integrity of the building was below safety standards, the group said in a statement.
"The worst buildings that pose the greatest risk are not so bad on the outside," says Ian Spaulding, Senior Advisor Alliance led by North American group Bangladesh Worker Safety.
The Alliance led by North America to Bangladesh Worker Safety, including Hudson's Bay Company and Canadian Tire, says that now is closed or partially closed 19 factories in the country due to security concerns.
The Alliance, which represents 27 major brands operating in Bangladesh, was formed after the devastating disaster Rana Factory Square, which killed nearly 1,129 people on April 24, 2013, and wounded thousands more.
He began an inspection program in garment factories in which they operate 600 major brands, for structural or electrical faults and fire safety concerns. The results of the inspection reports are published on the website of the Alliance.
Rana Plaza was originally built to be a complex six-story shopping center, but was later turned into clothing factories multistory loaded with heavy machinery on the upper floors of the building structurally unsound. Bangladesh has filed charges against 17 people in connection with the illegal conversion of the building.
After the fall, the practice of fashion houses that use cheap labor in dangerous buildings came under intense international scrutiny and the pressure was on the part of consumers to improve conditions.
Ian Spaulding, the consultant and public speaker Alliance, said the most disturbing discovery was buildings that do not meet the standards of the code in the load levels per floor.
"The worst buildings that pose the greatest risk are not so bad on the outside," said Spaulding, who was in Toronto to participate in the Global Round Table Ethical Apparel takes place two days in the brickwork.
When the inspectors take a closer look, however, problems as "highly stressed columns" and "cracks in beams and beam joints," are.
Last April, the Alliance recommends RSI Garments Ltd. in Chittagong immediately closed due to structural problems. RSI was closed and all 340 workers were paid 50 percent of their salary for two months, or $ 26.220 (US) in total, according to the inspection report.
Safety concerns found in other buildings include the lack of sprinklers and fire doors and faulty wiring. The Alliance has also launched a helpline for workers, by a third party, so that garment workers can anonymously report concerns.
As a result of the 19 closures or partial closures, the Alliance has offset 2,500 garment workers, while repairs are carried out, to the tune of $ 200,000 (US).
The Alliance, which has agreed to operate in Bangladesh for five years, lends money to factories to carry out security updates. If construction risks are not fixed, the big brands will not do business with factories.
Last September, VF Corporation - owner of popular brands The North Face, Wrangler, Vans and Nautica - started a (US) $ 10 million fund in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group to provide up to $ 10 million in funding for improvements Bangladeshi factories.
"The loans are fully guaranteed by VF - if a factory does not pay back, VF is on the hook," Spaulding said.
Last month, the Agreement on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh - an effort led by European group of 189 major brands including Primark and Loblaw - 80,000 reported finding safety hazards in factories in 1106 it inspected.
In 17 building inspections, the inspections Accord discovered the structural integrity of the building was below safety standards, the group said in a statement.
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