Trade unions and labour groups’ demands to buyers from Tazreen Fashions
Bangladeshi trade unions and international organizations are calling on all brands sourcing from the devastated Tazreen Fashions factory, which burnt down last weekend killing 112 workers, to provide emergency relief, medical costs and compensation to all those affected by the fire. They are also being asked, along with other key brands and stakeholders, to ensure an immediate and transparent investigation into the events surrounding the fire and to take urgent steps to prevent future tragedies in the industry.
The full demands being made of brands sourcing from Tazreen Fashions are:
- Full redress for the victims
- Emergency relief for all victims and their families, including medical treatment.
- Coverage of all medical costs short and long term.
- Full and fair compensation covering loss of future earnings as well as damages for the injured and families of the dead, based on the compensation formula proposed by the unions and labour rights groups supporting the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement. The full compensation package should also cover educational fees for the children of the deceased.
- Ensure wages continue to be paid for all workers (meeting legal entitlements at minimum) and that all workers are rehired at Tazreen Fashions, or in the event that it does not reopen, that workers are paid legal severance and offered priority hiring in nearby suppliers at equivalent or higher salary levels.
- Work with the government to set up a permanent workers’ welfare fund to cover compensation for industrial incidents and workplace injuries.
- Full and transparent investigation
- Acknowledge responsibility and support an independent investigation into the fires and prosecution for those culpable.
- Publish all audit reports relating to Tazreen Fashions.
- Prevention of future incidents
- Sign and immediately implement the comprehensive and independent Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement that has been developed by local and global unions and labour rights organizations. The program includes independent inspections, public reporting, mandatory repairs and renovations, a central role for workers and unions in both oversight and implementation, supplier contracts with sufficient financing and adequate pricing, and a binding contract to make these commitments enforceable.
- Publicly disclose full supplier list.
- Actively promote freedom of association and bargaining rights for workers through access agreements to create an atmosphere where workers can freely join trade unions and form factory level unions.
Brands sourcing from the Tazreen Fashions factory should send a delegation to Bangladesh to meet victims and their families, trade unions and labour rights organisations and work with other buyers to ensure these demands are met.