With the November 30 deadline for Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh to exit the country round the corner, the European brands/retailers’ platform set up to improve factory safety in Bangladesh has sought a stay on a court order that calls for its local operations to end this week.
“We have submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court…and are working to have a stay issued against the High Court judgement that would close down our office,” reportedly maintained Executive Director of Accord Rob Wayss while speaking to Reuters.
Accord’s appeal in the apex court is being heard today. In case the appeal fails to get a favourable decision from the court and the buyers’ body is forced to exit the country, Wayss reportedly underlined that the group would move its work to its Amsterdam office as the legally-binding contract signed between its brand members extends up to 2021.
“Right now, they can come to the office any day of the week, we can review designs together, we can give them feedback,” reportedly said Wayss, adding, “Our ability to do that when we don’t have an office and infrastructure is reduced, so the industry is harmed…”
It may be mentioned here that the European buyers/retailers’ body Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh — signed on 15 May 2013 to build a safe and healthy Bangladeshi readymade garment industry in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza disaster — has earlier warned the industry against sourcing squeeze if it is to depart the country this November.
“The consequences of a closure of the Accord liaison office in Bangladesh will be significant, immediate, and damaging,” reportedly underlined Deputy Director of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh Joris Oldenziel adding, “The premature shut down of the Accord, leaving workers in unsafe circumstances, would jeopardize the brands’ ability to source from a safe industry.”
Even the European Parliament recently passed a resolution asking Bangladesh to extend the tenure of the buyers’ body beyond November while underlining that significant work still remains unfinished on improving safety standards in the country’s apparel sector.