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Article

1 Sep 2014

Author:
Moriah Balingit, Post Gazette

In Bangladesh's garment factories, workers face an uphill battle for better safety

The April 23, 2013, collapse of Rana Plaza, which killed more than 1,100 workers...was the deadliest accident in the global garment industry...The conditions that led to these disasters — the fractured and ineffective oversight, the careless and cheap construction, the apathy toward workers’ safety issues — had existed for years...In the wake of the disaster, American and European clothing brands — including Pittsburgh-based American Eagle Outfitters — joined in an effort to fix the problem through inspections, signing on to an international agreement. The government of Bangladesh, under pressure from the United States and the European Union, put into place reforms that were meant to ease restrictions on unionization..Interviews with workers in this South Asian nation indicate that the inspections have improved safety and provide protection against large-scale disasters such as fires and building collapse. But the day-to-day lives of workers remain very difficult, with long hours, low wages, poor working conditions and aggressive pushback on attempts to unionize...Labor organizers say that inspections are a start but not enough to change conditions

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