H&M has expressed its dissatisfaction over the slow progress in post-inspection remedial work in its supplier garment units in the country and asked them to complete the remediation shortly, sources said. The review came at a meeting convened by the Swedish multinational retail-clothing company, also one the largest importers of locally-made apparel products to assess the remediation status and find out the reasons behind the slow progress. The company is currently sourcing apparel products from more than 200 local garment units, they added. “Accord representatives informed the meeting that the progress in H&M listed factories is 62 per cent and the latter has its dissatisfaction over the progress,” Mahmud Hasan Khan, vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told the FE after the meeting. Quoting H&M officials, he said the company pressed its suppliers to complete the remediation shortly, saying as one of the largest companies, they have international pressure regarding the remedial issue. Meeting sources, however, said the company has asked some of its suppliers to complete the remediation work by May next. On behalf of the suppliers, the BGMEA leaders informed the meeting that it took five to twelve months to identify right sourcing for required anti-fire equipment like fire-door, automated fire detection system and sprinklers, while there was delay initially in approving the detailed engineering analysis reports by Accords. The BGMEA also suggested the H&M officials discuss the progress issue with its individual vendors to get the real picture. The H&M’s move to discuss the remediation progress with its supplier factories came following the allegation by four global unions.
