Bangladesh: IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union to withdraw from RSC board highlighting inadequacy of enforceable scheme in protecting worker safety
“Global unions to withdraw from unenforceable garment factory safety scheme in Bangladesh”, 12 May 2021
… IndustriALL, UNI and local unions in Bangladesh will no longer be part of the RSC and its Board of Directors—stripping away any credibility of the RSC as an effective worker safety organization.
… [G]lobal apparel brands have insisted upon a new framework for the future which discards the key elements that have led to the Accord’s success in making garment factories in Bangladesh safe for workers…
The brands’ empty promises to renew the Accord … risk the lives of millions of garment workers in Bangladesh.
UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman said:
“… [B]rands have pursued an ‘Accord Exit’ strategy designed to write away any meaningful role for unions in the future. We can’t be a rubber stamp for an industry-brand partnership without real accountability and robust oversight...”
IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Valter Sanches said:
“… The brands’ proposal of self-monitoring is a dangerous step backwards and undermines the credibility of the programme. It will have immediate consequences for the safety of millions of workers in the brands’ supply chains.”