Better Work to Bow in Bangladesh

GENEVA — A total of 30 large export-oriented garment factories have signed up to take part in the Better Work Bangladesh program and up to 100 factories are expected to be covered in 2015, a senior International Labor Organization official said. “Suppliers of major buyers are enthusiastic to join,” said Dan Rees, director of Better Work. “Already 30 walked through the door representing about 50,000 garment workers.” Large export factories with more than 500 employees are the initial entry point for the starting of the Bangladesh program, ILO officials said. Better Work programs monitor apparel factories seeking to ensure working and safety conditions comply with global labor standards and periodically publish assessment reports of their monitoring activities. The Program engages with over 60 major brands and also with trade labor unions, government and employer’s representatives. Rees, a corporate social responsibility expert, told WWD, “We will deal with as many factories as feasible in the first year,” and “the program is looking at 100 factories in 2015, and to reach in the third year, 300 factories.” He expects the program will be supported by major buyers such as Hennes & Mauritz, Inditex, Gap Inc., Li & Fung and PVH Corp. But Rees acknowledged a number of

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