Making Global Corporations' Labor Rights Commitments Legally Enforceable: The Bangladesh Breakthrough

One of the most distinctive attributes of the recently signed Accord on Building and Fire Safety in Bangladesh ("Accord") is that, unlike nearly all initiatives since the advent of global manufacturing to address the safety and wellbeing of supply chain workers, the agreement entails commitments by multinational enterprises that are legally enforceable. This brief document outlines the agreement’s key elements and enforcement provisions, their significance in the current debate on global labor rights, and the objections to them that have been voiced by some apparel brands and retailers. Written by the US-based Worker Rights Consortium in June 2013.