A fire in February at the Garib & Garib Sweater Factory in Bangladesh killed at least 21 workers and injured a further 50. Reports suggest that the emergency exists were blocked in the seven story building as was the main gate. Since 2000 there have been at least nine fires in Bangladesh apparel manufacturing companies resulting in nearly 273 deaths.
This recent fire demonstrates that audits by retailers are failing to notice inadequacies when it comes to safety and the protection of workers.
Research provides evidence that the volume of apparel imports from Bangladesh by South African retailers has grown. It is hoped that South African retailers will take note about the poor state of Bangladesh's clothing industry when it comes to safety and ensure that the workers from the companies supplying them are adequately protected.
During the period of South Africa's quotas on Chinese imports, Mauritius, Malaysia and Bangladesh increased their exports to South Africa by at least 345%, 680% and 2076% respectively. Imports from Vietnam equated to 388%, Thailand by 39% and Myanmar 197%.
1 comments:
I was amazed to read that one. I had never imagined it. How can it happen.
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