The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety says that during the month of December, a further 54 Alliance-affiliated factories completed all material components outlined in their Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), bringing the total number of CAP-completing factories to 301.
Set up in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed more than 1,100 workers, the Alliance performs independent inspections on the structural, electrical and fire safety of all factories from which its members source. Each factory is then provided with a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) designed to help it address safety issues and achieve compliance with Alliance safety standards. The Alliance also provides technical advice and access to low-cost loans to assist factories with remediation.
“Each of these factories deserves our commendation for working hard to achieve the Alliance’s strict safety standards,” says Alliance country director Jim Moriarty. “Their progress sets the tone for 2018, and furthers our mission of ushering in a culture of safety in the Bangladesh garment industry.”
Across all Alliance factories, 87% of all required factory remediation has now been completed, according to the group. In addition, no factories were suspended for failing to make adequate remediation progress in December, reflecting a concerted effort by Alliance factories to take the necessary steps to provide safer working conditions for their employees. The total number of suspended factories stands at 164.
The current status of each Alliance factory can be found here.
Speaking to just-style as the Alliance published its fourth annual report in November, Alliance executive director Jim Moriarty said the group expects that by next summer the vast majority of the factories are going to be in “very good shape.”
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By GlobalData“The pace of CAP closures is picking up as more and more factories get near the end of their remediation programme and as we make sure they are in good shape in respect to training. In fact, in the third quarter of this year, we actually did four times as many CAP closures during the first two quarters of the year combined,” he said.
The Alliance, which is due to leave Bangladesh after the end of its tenure on 31 May 2018, is also looking to partner on a new safety organisation in Bangladesh that would be “independent, credible, and operate on a sustainable business model.”
Bangladesh Alliance in talks over new safety organisation
