By signing the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, American denim company Levi Strauss & Co. has made a major contribution to improving workplace safety for garment workers in Pakistan. But now, advocacy organisations are urging the business to make the same pledge in Bangladesh.
Levi’s decision to join the International Accord, which includes clauses for worker training, factory inspections, remedial programs, and a complaints process, has been hailed by the Clean Clothes Campaign. By taking these steps, Pakistani workers who produce Levi’s goods will be guaranteed safe working conditions.
The International Accord was first established in reaction to the horrific collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, but it has now grown to include Pakistan. To find and fix safety risks, the program requires factories that supply brands that have ratified the agreement to go through routine inspections.
Now, the advocacy group is pleading with Levi to continue its support for the relevant Accord in Bangladesh. Levi took part in the Nirapon program in 2023, which provides employees with a hotline to report safety issues. The Clean Clothes Campaign contends that Nirapon is a weaker substitute for the International Accord due to its lack of binding provisions and extensive union participation, notwithstanding the company’s belief that this program promotes a culture of safety in Bangladeshi workplaces.
The Clean Clothes Campaign’s campaign coordinator, Christie Miedema, emphasised the significance of robust worker rights and said she hoped Levi’s will use this chance to sign the Accord’s Bangladesh program.
All eyes will be on Levi Strauss to see whether company will take any additional steps to protect workers in Bangladesh as the worldwide discussion about garment worker safety continues.