US plan for Bangladesh factory safety 'a sham'

A plan developed by North American retailers including Gap and Wal-Mart to improve safety in Bangladeshi garment factories has been labelled a "sham" by workers' rights groups.

The two retailers are part of an alliance of 17 US and Canadian brands and retailers that have launched a five-year agreement as an alternative to a legally binding European accord backed by 70 international brands.

Murray Worthy, a sweatshops campaigner at War on Want, said: "Gap and Wal-Mart's safety plan is a sham, which won't make factories safe."

Both deals have been agreed after the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh in April in which more 1,000 people were killed when a factory collapsed. That disaster followed a series of fires and highlighted work conditions in the industry and the plight of millions of workers who are paid as little as £25 (HK$300) a month.

The North American deal promises to arrange the inspection of all factories used by the signatories within a year and to set up common safety standards by October.

The retailers promise to pay up to US$1 million a year each to support mandatory training for staff and managers, and for "worker participation committees" to deal with complaints about conditions.