PMGAs many as 97 readymade garment factories in Bangladesh have been suspended from a list of Alliance-compliant factories for failure to make sufficient remediation progress. However, only 40 factories achieved considerable progress towards completion of the corrective action plans (CAPs), according to the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. The Alliance made the disclosure in its third annual report issued on 5 October. The report said 63 per cent of all required repairs have been completed, including 55 per cent of high-priority repairs. “Progress toward this goal has been significant, and achieving closure on the remaining issues most critical to life safety remains our primary focus,” independent chair of the Alliance Ellen Tauscher saidIn the wake of the apathetic attitudes to take enough safety measures at work places of some factories, Ellen Tauscher issued cautionary notes in the report. “By July 2018, all Alliance factories will have either completed their high-priority repairs or have been suspended from the Alliance’s list of suppliers.” According to the report, over a 1.2 million workers have been trained in basic fire safety, with nearly 800,000 receiving the interactive refresher course. The Alliance report also found a significant progress in formation of worker safety committees to monitor on-site occupational safety and health issues. It said the number of committees has tripled from 16 to 54 since April and the committees will be operational in a majority of Alliance factories by July 2018.Alliance country director James F Moriarty said, “Achieving safety in factories is about more than completing repairs. It must be accompanied by comprehensive efforts to inform, engage and empower the women and men who earn their living in garment factories.” By approaching remediation and empowerment hand in hand, we are working to set the gold standard for garment factories throughout Bangladesh,” he added.
