Photo: Clean Clothes Campaign
On November 6, 2023, agreement was reached between apparel brands and Global Unions IndustriALL and UNI on a new legally-binding International Accord on Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry with programs currently in Bangladesh and Pakistan. To date, 54 brands have signed the new Accord, which will be in operation for three years and automatically renewed for an additional three years.
Under the new Accord, global retailers and brands must sign on to an Accord safety program in at least one participating country, but can potentially sign on to Accord programs in multiple countries where they have production.
The Accord model has had a measurable impact in improving health and safety for workers in Bangladesh, and is currently making a real difference for workers in Pakistan.
This latest agreement allows for the expansion of the program to other priority countries where workers face health and safety hazards.
MSN is one of four witness signatories to the Accord, and we join with those organizations and the Global Union signatories in calling all brands and retailers to sign the International Accord and to sign on to Accord programs in all participating countries where they source apparel products.
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