We are concerned by a continuing shortfall in donations to the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund, which is some 30% short of its $30m target to deliver necessary compensation and medical care to survivors and bereaved family members. The ILO chaired fund was set up by the Rana Plaza Arrangement backed by leading brands and the government, to enable support to be provided for victims in line with the standards required by ILO Convention 121, without getting delayed by legal disputes. Although it has made commendable progress in working towards this aim, it is still $8.5m short of its proposed target. We hope that the spotlight drawn by the second anniversary of the disaster will encourage more brands to come forward to top up the deficit. The government can also help by coordinating and speeding up disribution of unused monies collected in the prime minister’s fund for Rana Plaza victims. The amounts being sought by the Arrangement represent a tiny percentage of the profits earned by brands involved in sourcing from Rana Plaza. It would be in everyone’s interests for the shortfall to be removed straightaway so that the Arrangement can fulfill its commitment and alleviate concerns being expressed by many of the victims who are in dire need of help. Otherwise, the prime benefit to all stakeholders in forming the Arrangement will be undermined. Industry associations should take a lead in working with brands, campaign groups, government and workers representatives to ensure more funds become available and are effectively distributed.
