Cornell cuts ties with VF\\\'s JanSport over BD

Cornell University, a leading private institution of higher learning in the USA, has cut its ties with the readymade garment manufacturer JanSport over worker and factory safety in Bangladesh. In a letter sent to VF Corporation which owns JanSport, on Thursday, Cornell, the American private Ivy League and federal land-grant research university, finally severed ties with VF Corporation while leaving open the option to resume its business relationship if the company decides to sign the accord in the future. 'The sheer size of VF's presence and influence in Bangladesh behooves the company to support all initiatives designed to improve worker and factory safety in that country,' Cornell President David J Skorton wrote in his letter. 'Although VF and JanSport are separate business entities, VF's practices regarding labour compliance and practices govern all production globally and are applied to all VF subsidiaries,' Skorton added. The accord is an independent agreement designed to make all apparel factories in Bangladesh safe workplaces. It includes independent safety inspections at factories and public reporting of the results of these inspections. As part of the agreement retailers commit to ensuring that repairs are carried out, that sufficient funds are made available to do so, and that workers continue to be paid a salary, according to a news agency.