An international campaign has been launched to raise $40m for the Rana Plaza victims by April 24 when first anniversary of the catastrophe will be observed.
The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) along with trade unions and workers both local and international has urged to donate the amount to the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund.
In a statement yesterday, the CCC urged major international brands “to make significant contributions” so payments could begin to the victims.
It particularly mentioned the names of Benetton, KiK and Children’s Place who all had orders at one of the five factories in Rana Plaza at the time of or just before the collapse.
According to the global union, $40m is required to fairly compensate the injured and the families of the workers killed in the incident for medical expenses and loss of their incomes.
To date, the clothing brands El Corte Ingles, Mascot, Mango, Inditex and Loblaw have all publicly committed to the Donor Trust Fund, CCC said.
The campaign comes just two months before the first anniversary of the catastrophic collapse of Rana Plaza, which killed over 1,100 people and injured over 2,500.
The Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund which is collecting voluntary donations on behalf of the Rana Plaza Arrangement is overseen by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The fund is open to all companies, donors and individuals who wish to express their solidarity and compassion.
Compensation efforts to date have been completely haphazard, unequal, unpredictable and non-transparent, and have left large groups of victims with nothing.
The Arrangement has set up the entire operational structure, which will put an end to this unpredictability quickly and completely, said Ineke Zeldenrust of CCC.
“All that is needed is for companies to pay up and we encourage the entire industry to make generous contributions,” Zeldenrust said.
Hameeda Hossein of Bangladesh Worker’s Safety Forum said: “Now is the time for all of us to act and ensure $40m is donated before April 24, 2014.”
Roy Ramesh Chandra, secretary general of IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, labelled the effort as “unprecedented” and said it allowed brands, government, employers’ organisations and unions to work together for the Rana Plaza victims.
“Ten months after the worst industrial disaster to hit the garment industry, there can be no further excuses. Brands can show that they can be part of the solution if they pay up now,” Roy said.