The Accord of European Union retailers will start apparel factory inspection in Bangladesh from November.
The decision emerged from a meeting between the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and a team from the EU retailers’ platform on fire and building safety for Bangladesh garments factories at BGMEA office in Dhaka yesterday.
The meeting discussed about common standards for the inspection, funding arrangements to improve the industry and to set next course of action.
The team includes the Accord executive director Sean Ansett, H&M representative Fagerlin Jenny, C&A representative Philip Chamberlin, representatives of Devon Ham Caroleny Haycock and Rosey Hurst.
“The Accord will start inspection from the first week of November and they would inspect 1,800 factories (instead of 1,500) as their list of vendors enlarged,” Shahidullah Azim, BGMEA Vice President told the reporters after the meeting.
There will be two types of funds – one for inspection to be collected from the donors and accord members, and the other would be for vendors.
Azim said the inspection will take around one year period as the number of factories increased.
On September 28, the Accord is scheduled to submit the list of vendors and a report on risk assessment they have already prepared to International Labour Organisation (ILO) to make a common safety standard, he said.
Accord, a platform of 87 retailers and apparel brands from the EU, had announced its work plan on May 15 to improve the fire and building safety measures.
The move came following the deadliest collapse of Rana Plaza building, which killed over 1,100 workers.