On 11 September 2022, labour rights activists, campaigners, unions and the bereaved marked the tenth anniversary of the Ali Enterprises factory fire in Pakistan, which killed over 260 people and injured over 60.

At a gathering organised by the National Trade Union Federation, Baldia Town Tragedy Association and Home-Based Women Workers Federation of Pakistan, the families of the victims demanded a safe environment for all workers and for the implementation and enforcement of labour laws in Pakistan. They also called for the restoration of the EOBI pension for the victims’ parents and for women workers to be provided a safe environment at their workplaces, where anti-harassment committees are formed at the basic level.

Campaigners internationally supported calls for the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, a legally binding agreement between brands, unions and NGOs to improve health and safety in factories, currently only implemented in Bangladesh, to be expanded to Pakistan. In a report, Clean Clothes Campaign highlighted dozens of incidents of injury and death over the past 18 months across garment factories in Pakistan, as well as safety hazards reported by workers. The report also accused brands such as H&M, Inditex, Bestseller and C&A of obstructing the expansion of the International Accord, allegedly delaying progress “to the point where their posture suggests not caution, but wilful obstruction”.

Furthermore, Remake launched a campaign alongside labour rights groups in Bangladesh and Pakistan, calling on Levi’s to sign onto the International Accord, citing its strong supplier presence in the two countries, and public commitment to workers’ wellbeing and safety.

Company comments can be found below.