Trade Justice and the Building Collapse in Bangladesh

Trade Justice activist William Gomes, who is Salem-News.com's Human Rights Ambassador, visited large clothing retailers in the UK, along with other activists, to talk about working conditions in garment factories.

York campaigner William Gomes is Salem-News.com's Human Rights Ambassador. Photo: Fairtrade Yorkshire

(YORK, UK) - Trade Justice activists have called for retailers to take more responsibility for the safety of the people who are making the clothes that they sell.

The building collapse in Bangladesh, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, is a stark example of what can happen when the safety of workers is ignored.

In addition to the responsibility of the authorities in Bangladesh, western retail companies who benefit from cheap labour, also have an obligation to ensure workers are safe.

William Gomes is a Trade Justice activist based in York but has lived for most of his life in Bangladesh. Together with Trade Justice activists, he has visited large clothing retailers in Leeds and York to talk about working conditions for garment workers and calling for the tightening up of ethical procurement policies.

William said; “I cried when I heard what had happened to the workers in the Rana Plaza. Many people have died making clothes for western retailers. They paid the price for our fashion.”

Read William’s article which was published in the Huffington Post.

Special thanks to Fairtrade Yorkshire

http://www.fairtradeyorkshire.org.uk/news/trade-justice-and-the-building-collapse-in-bangladesh

Also see:

May-15-2013: UK Activists Protest for Victims in Bangladesh Tim King Salem-News.com

May-10-2013: Reason and Responsibility: the Rana Plaza Collapse William Gomes Salem-News.com

Apr-25-2013: BANGLADESH: Burning Garment Factory Collapses, 225 Dead - Salem-News.com