DeLauro, Senior House Democrats Urge U.S. Retailers to Join Coalition Supporting Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh
Call on Retailers to Commit to FullyEnforceable Agreement on Bangladeshi Worker Rights
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) andsenior House Democrats have sent letters to nine separate U.S. retailerscalling upon them to join a broadening global coalition supporting a May 12Accord on Fire and Building Safety, developed by the Worker Rights Consortiumand a number of key stakeholders. The accord has won the support of laborrights organizations and unions around the world, and it has gained significantmomentum among buyers, with Ambercrombie & Fitch, Aldi, Benetton, C&A,Carrefour, El Corte Inglés, Esprit, G-Star, H&M, Helly Hansen, Hess Natur,Inditex, JCB, KIK, LIDL, Loblaws, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Mothercare, N.Brown group, New Look, Next, Primark, PVH, Rewe, Sainsbury's, Stockmann,Switcher, Tchibo, Tesco, and WE Group having signed on already.
The letters were signed by Leader Nancy Pelosi, Whip StenyHoyer, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin, Education andWorkforce Committee Ranking Member George Miller, Rep. John Lewis, CaucusChairman Xavier Becerra, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Caucus Vice Chairman Joe Crowley,Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Rep. Mike Michaud.
"Circumstances are at a tipping point in Bangladesh, much asthey were in the wake of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist fire in New York over acentury ago. …We urge you to seize this moment, and to help ensure that workersin Bangladesh do not needlessly lose their lives to produce the clothes wewear," the lawmakers wrote in the letter to the retailers.
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Read the letters to each individual retailer: