The Quotes are Powered By Forexpros, the Forex, Futures, and Stock Markets Portal.

Danish fashion firms sign more binding agreement with Bangladesh, two months after factory collapsed

Monday, 24 June 2013

Two months after a clothing factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1,100 workers, Danish fashion companies are only now ready to commit themselves to signing the agreements which aimed at improving conditions for workers and guaranteeing their safety.

According to various media reports in Denmark, one of the companies is the Danish clothing group Bestseller, which is among the Danish companies that have produced and sold most cloths in the country.

Actually Danish companies that have their garment products made in Bangladesh, have already in mid-May voluntarily agreed with the Danish government to improve the conditions of workers in developing countries.

The new agreement, which is being signed today, is said to be far more binding. "It is a legally binding agreement in which compared to the past Danish agreement which was more a statement of intent. So I would not say we have hesitated, but we have needed to know specifically what it was that we commit ourselves to," says Mogens Wergeland communications official of Bestseller who explains that it is not due to procrastination that they sign the new agreement. He mentioned that the company has been waiting for weeks to sign the agreement.

This is because while Danish clothing companies have spent several weeks to consider whether to join the agreement or not, over 55 clothing companies in other countries have already signed it. This includes large international chains like H & M and Abercrombie & Fitch.

Organization DanWatch, which reports on Danish companies' behaviour abroad, is pleased that Danish companies have finally joined the agreement.

Chairman, Mads Klæstrup, who is also communications chief at DanChurchAid (DCA) an organisation that assists the world’s poorest to lead a life in dignity says he would love that Danish companies do more.

"It is clear that DanWatch would like to see more from the Danish companies. We have skilled Danish companies who could show a little more openness. We believe that there should be open vendor lists, so one can see where things come from."

According to the terms of the agreement, some key pointers include that it must ensure that independent oversights regularly inspect the factories in the poor countries, and the factories would be closed, if they are in danger of collapse or if they are firetraps.

At the same time textile, workers must be paid in full as long as their factory is closed for repairs.

by Scancomark.com Team

want to contribute to our news network? Do have a news tip or assist us with a correction? Please ...