Our work in production countries - FEMNET - Frauen in der Textilindustrie

Since November 2018, the decision of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh has been repeatedly postponed at monthly intervals. So also on 15 April 2019. Supposedly, it is now to be decided on May 19 whether the Accord, the building and fire protection agreement that has provided for around 1600 safe export factories, can remain in the country.

The government wants to get rid of the independent inspectors and claims to be able to carry out the factory inspections itself. However, this is questioned by both international buyers and the Clean Clothes Campaign.

Since 20 August 2024, heavy rainfall has led to severe flooding in 11 districts of Bangladesh. According to the Ministry of Civil Protection, about 5.7 million people are affected, around 470,000 seek refuge in emergency shelters, and 23 people have been killed so far.

After Months of wrestling and several times Postponement of the decision The Supreme Court finally reached an agreement on the Accord in Bangladesh on 19 May 2019: The agreement on building safety and fire protection guarantees continued work for 281 days.

In addition, the agreement includes the establishment of a national safety committee, which will take over the activities of the Accord, as well as all its infrastructure and staff after that deadline. It is an agreement between the Accord Steering Committee and the BGMEA (Employers' Association of the Bangladeshi Clothing Industry) and is endorsed by the Bangladeshi government.

The website is part of the project ‘Multi-Actor Partnership for Improved Due Diligence Implementation in the Textile Sector via Worker and Community-based Monitoring’ – a joint project of the German organisations FEMNET, HEJSupport, INKOTA-netzwerk and SÜDWIND with Bangladeshi partners Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILLS) and Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO). Other project partners are the WageIndicator Foundation, Mondiaal FNV and the Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF).

On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Savar, Bangladesh, collapsed. More than 1,100 people died and more than 2,500 were injured. For the first time, the world looked at the devastating conditions in the global fashion industry, but only for a moment. The grievances persist. How we make them visible and encourage companies to act.

In November 2024, FEMNET staff travelled to Bangladesh to visit partner organisations and understand the situation on the ground. The political and social tensions in the country have left visible traces, but there are also first signs of hope and change.

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ACCORD: Supreme Court postpones its decision again

Flood disaster in Bangladesh: How climate change threatens the textile industry

Accord continues to work, but employer lobby decides in the future

How we remind companies of their due diligence obligations

Bangladesh in transition: Impressions of a trip in November 2024