Pakistan Garment Industry: A decade after deadly Ali Enterprises fire
04 July 2022, Mumbai:
A decade after the deadly Ali Enterprises fire, Pakistan’s garment workers report a shocking lack of fire exit.
New research from the Clean Clothes Campaign and Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) at Cardiff University reveals the urgent need for expansion of the International Accord in Pakistan, a legally binding safety agreement to protect workers.
2022 marks 10 years since the horrific Ali Enterprises fire that killed over 250 garment workers in Pakistan yet rights for workers in the garment and textile industry have hardly progressed.
ALSO READ Campaign targets Rana Plaza buyer Auchan for its failure to address factory safety
RELEVANT NEWS Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) x ILO stitch MoU for Bangladesh knitwear workers’ safety
There is still no safety agreement that holds employers and international brands accountable for implementing basic safety protocols and procedures, leaving workers in almost the same conditions that led to this catastrophic fire – the deadliest ever in the global garment industry.
This is evidenced by data collected by an incidence tracker which has recorded over a dozen incidents resulting in deaths and injuries in garment factories in Pakistan over the past 18 months.
In Pakistan, an estimated 2.2 million workers produce garments, 1.8 million make textiles, and 200,000 are employed in the footwear and leather industry, supplying large global brands such as Levi’s, H&M, and Ikea.
To understand what changes need to be made to protect workers, the Clean Clothes Campaign conducted a broad survey of almost 600 workers covering issues from workplace harassment, workplace health and safety, and worker wellbeing.
Advertise in FAIR EXPRESS 2022
Join our community on Linkedin
