Accord for evacuation of Mirpur RMG unit

The Accord will press for immediate evacuation of a garment factory in the city that is continuing production for non-Accord buyers, even though the European buyers' inspection team earlier identified the unit 'unsafe'.
“The Accord and signatory brands will attempt to continue working with the factory owner(s) to evacuate the unit and to perform the necessary remediation measures, so that it can be made safe for return of production and people,” said the Accord in a statement Tuesday.
According to the statement, if 'critical findings' are found in any unit, the Accord requires that no Accord production takes place in it.
Accord engineers have recently found such critical findings in Florence Fashions Ltd at Mirpur.
"However, they (Florence Fashions) continue to produce other non-Accord products and have employees working in the factory that has been inspected and has critical findings," the statement said, adding the Accord feels obligated to disclose this information.
The Accord and Accord brand in the factory have informed the owner of the critical findings, have required suspension of the brand's production, and have requested the factory owners not to have employees working inside the factory until it is determined to be safe for production and occupancy.
The Accord and Accord brand have expressed support to the owners towards remediation and during the period of temporary production suspension.
Florence Fashions has suspended or made arrangements to produce the Accord brand production at other facilities, but it continues to produce products for others, the statement said.
It said the official Review Panel has not issued any order of evacuation regarding the factory's case.
On the other hand, the panel said it is yet to get such request for the said factory from the Accord.
When communicated, Inspector General of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) Syed Ahmed, also head of the panel, said they are yet to get any request or recommendation from the Accord regarding Florence Fashions.
However, sources said Florence Fashions shared the same building that accommodated three more factories - Cherry (Pvt) Ltd, Joya Fashion and Ultimate Fashions Ltd.
Accord requested the Review Panel to take necessary steps, as its engineers have identified structural flaws there, they added.
The panel visited Cherry Ltd in April, but did not take any decision, as the engineers, appointed by local and western retailers, failed to reach a consensus over concrete strength issue.
When asked, Florence Fashions managing director Marzuq Noman said he had a meeting with the Accord officials and would sit with them again shortly. But he did not give any further details in this regard.