Two hundred 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 1,700 factories and 1.8 million workers in Bangladesh. The International Accord, a legally-binding agreement between garment brands and global trade unions, IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union, began as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh in 2013.

“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,” said Joris Oldenziel, executive director of the International Accord Foundation in a release.

The agreement promotes worker safety through independent inspections, remediation and training programmes and recognises the rights of workers to organise, refuse unsafe work and raise health and safety concerns.

“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,” the release added.