Take responsibility now!

Dear Ms/Mr

I am shocked to hear about the fire at the Garib & Garib Sweater Ltd. factory, costing the lives of 21 workers and leaving another 50 workers injured. This is not an isolated incident. It echoes a number of similar fatal fires in the recent history of the Bangladesh garment industry.

I urgently call upon you to take immediate and transparent action to ensure that all victims receive medical support and just compensation, now and for the longer term. There should be an impartial investigation leading to the criminal persecution of anyone whose actions or negligence contributed for this disaster. Finally I urge you to take action to prevent future disasters from happening, including the revision of existing health and safety regulations for the garment industry in Bangladesh.

I strongly believe that if you are really serious about preventing future deaths you must immediately start involving workers in monitoring health and safety standards. This can only be done through supporting the right to organise and working directly with trade unions.

Yours sincerely,