Leading unions and labor groups in Pakistan have proposed their own safety ‘Accord’ similar to that of Bangladesh. These groups have claimed many factories that supply to Western brands have serious safety defects similar to those uncovered in the aftermath of Rana Plaza and have urged brands to support a Pakistan Accord for Fire and Building Safety.

Union and labor groups from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and other cities met on the sixth anniversary of the Ali Enterprises fire in Pakistan which killed over 250 workers. The meeting was jointly organised by the Pakistan Institute of Education and Research, the National Trade Union Federation of Pakistan and the Labour Education Foundation.

Participants noted many similarities between the lack of workplace safety prior to the Bangladesh Accord and the current lack of implementation of fire and building safety standards in garment and textile factories and mills in Pakistan. The labor groups will now develop more detailed proposals for the nature and shape of a Pakistan Accord and these will be shared with international partners.