US retailers have refused to contribute towards aid for victims of Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza collapse, according to a New York Times report.
The article, published Saturday morning, said only a handful of retailers, including the UK retailer Primark, were deeply involved in the long-term compensation to the victims.
However, retailer giants such as Walmart, Sears, Children's Place and other American companies have refused to pay “a single penny.”
Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, said “There has been a good response from European brands, but none from the US.”
In some of the worst factory disasters of recent times, the Rana Plaza collapse and the fire at Tazreen Fashions claimed over 1,200 lives.
Demands were raised that global retailers contribute to the relief efforts towards the victims.
But now it seems, according to Kalpona Akter, the US giants are not interested in such efforts despite repeated concerns over labour safety coming from the Obama administration.
The US cited poor working conditions after the two disasters, and canceled the GSP facility of Bangladesh.