Labour rights groups in Europe, Bangladesh and North America have given an ultimatum to H&M to ensure three vital repairs for safe exit in its supplier garment factories in Bangladesh by May 03, 2016. The remedial work included removal of locks from fire exits, removal of sliding doors and collapsible gates and installation of fire-rated doors and enclosure of stairwells, according to a statement issued by Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) on Thursday. Workers’ rights advocates have called on H&M to prove its commitments through action rather than stunts, the statement said. In response to H&M’s inaction, the CCC, International Labour Rights Forum, and United Students Against Sweatshops have launched a campaign demanding H&M address its broken promises, with a campaign website www.hmbrokenpromises.com. “The importance of such repairs was once again underscored by a huge fire at a H&M supplier, Matrix Sweaters Ltd, in February where only a handful of people suffered injuries, largely due to the fact that most workers had yet to arrive for their shift,” the statement mentioned. The Accord’s inspection report for the factory revealed that it had missed dozens of deadlines to eliminate fire hazards and make the structure safe. Had the fire broken out just an hour later, scores of workers may have been trapped inside, it added. The rights groups also launched Thursday a call for consumers to participate in a global day of action on May 3. The protests, which will coincide with H&M’s 2016 Annual General Meeting in Solna, Sweden, will demand H&M finally keep its promises to make its Bangladeshi supplier factories safe. From April 25, the day after the Rana Plaza anniversary, the groups will be launching a variety of online and street actions, culminating in a Global Day of Action on May 03. The move came following a review of corrective action plans relating to 32 of H&M’s strategic suppliers, carried out last week, showed that the majority of these factories still lack adequate fire exits nearly three years after H&M committed to improve working conditions by signing the Accord. The launch of H&M’s “Conscious Exclusive Collection,” took place Thursday at the Louvre in Paris, is one of several events H&M is holding to promote itself as a ‘sustainable’ company followed by the launch of a video by pop star M.I.A. to promote H&M’s “World Recycle Week,” scheduled for April 18-24, the same week that labour rights activists will commemorate 1,134 workers killed in the Rana Plaza building collapse. Anna E Eriksson of H&M Communication and Press Department in an email said, “It raises important issues that we are already working on. We are following the Accord remediation plan closely and we see good progress.”
