Italian fashion brand United Colors of Benetton has agreed to provide compensation through the Rana Plaza Trust Fund, established in 2014, to support the victims of the Rana Plaza tragedy and their families. Benetton is working with an independent, globally recognized third party to define the amount of compensation, which will be announced around April 24.

The company’s first step was launching its own support group in partnership with a Bangladesh-based global nongovernmental organization, BRAC, one month after the tragedy. This move has helped support 280 victims and family members in rebuilding a sustainable future. Benetton noted that this step in support of Rana Plaza victims is part of a larger social commitment program by the group. The Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed in April 2013 killing 1,132 garment workers and injuring more than 2,500. The incident highlighted the plight of millions of low-paid workers making clothes around the world and kicked off a string of efforts to improve conditions in Bangladesh.

Benetton is the last of the major retailers who sourced from the eight-floor building to back the fund. So far 5,000 people – injured workers and families of the deceased – have received 40 per cent of the money due to them.