A global retailers' group has warned of snapping business ties with more than a dozen local apparel makers over their failure to improve safety even after the initial inspection, insiders said.
The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, led mostly by European buyers, has also told the government about its position regarding one factory located at Ashulia.
But the factory authority said it is not willing to do business with Accord-linked buyers while the rest 13 are taking immediate measures to allay the group's concerns.
The move came following the Accord's follow-up inspection in its listed factories. At the end of November 30, 2014, follow-up inspection reports (fire, electrical and structural) have been sent to 73 factories while the Accord has issued non-compliance letters to 13 factory owners.
"If no action is taken following this letter and the Accord does not see any progress, the Accord Brands in the factory will be informed and accordingly would be required to invoke the provisions of the Accord related to non-compliance with required remediation," a recent report available on Accord's website said.
"Such provisions include termination of business relations and public disclosure of the non-compliance on the Accord website," it said.
Accord executive director Rob Wayss told the FE: "… there is an increasing possibility that Accord brands in the factory will be required to end their business relationship with the factory because the building owner and other non-Accord producing factories in the same building are unwilling to cooperate and support remediation requirements,".
The Accord continues to work with the brands in this factory, the factory owner, and the authorities to convince the building owner about the need to execute the full remediation of the building, he said.
He said that 13 factory owners responded positively after the letters to the factory owners.
Mafuzur Rahman, a general manager of Mega Chois Knitwear, said "We don't mind if Accord informs its buyers as we are not willing to do business with them."
Currently, the factory is manufacturing apparel products for a Korean buyer not for any Accord's buyers, he said, adding the Accord's buyers offer lower rate, which is not viable.
Accord only inspects whether we (factory authority) follow the CAP, why they are not overseeing as to the buyers are offering products price considering the cost of compliance, he raised question.
In the meantime, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) asked the factory authority to suspend its production until full remediation is taken place especially another staircase is set up.
Syed Ahmed Inspector General of DIFE said "We are not informed about the 13 factories but steps have been taken regarding Mega Chois Knitwear following the Accord's mail."
A DIFE inspector visited the factory and found that the building is highly detrimental with a single staircase, he explained.
Regarding the government directive, the factory official said his company Tuesday sought time from the government to set up an additional staircase.
"More than 50 per cent production has been gradually suspended while the rest is running to meet a shipment scheduled for Korea," Mr Rahman said.
Vice President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Md Shahidullah Azim said the association is not officially informed anything about it.
"Accord is supposed to inform us. In such cases, we can communicate or put pressure, which can bring better outcome," he said.
munni_fe@yahoo.com
Accord warns of severing ties with 14 garment makers
Monira Munni | Published: March 05, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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