Fair Production's mission is to improve labour conditions in fashion producing factories in the Global South by providing training and advice on safety and sustainability.

MISSION Fair Production's mission is to improve labour conditions in fashion producing factories in the Global South by providing training and advice on safety and sustainability. THE ISSUE The present-day textile and clothing industry is organised in complex global supply chains. Fashion is changing much more quickly and at ever shorter intervals. Competition in speed and price is increas- ing and the burden is often passed on to the bottom of the supply chain: the production workers in countries such as Bangladesh, India, China and Turkey, resulting in substandard working conditions in these countries. These labour conditions endanger safety, health, workers’ rights, gender issues and environment. The world’s attention was first drawn to the gravity of this problem in 2012 when bad electrical installations caused a fire in the Tazreen garment factory in Bangladesh killing 112 workers. The next year, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building took more than 1100 lives of garment workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. These tragedies could have been prevented if due attention had been devo- ted to the safety of electrical installations, fire safety and sound construction. The sense of urgency that the way clothing and textile is produced should change, is since wide-spread. Consumers demand fashion that was produced under sound, safe and fair conditions. Consumer awareness campaigns are organised; fair fashion labels introduced. Politicians and labour unions have joined hands with fashion companies and garment producers to improve working conditions. In Bangladesh, the “Integrated National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety and Structural Integrity in the Ready-Made Garment Sector in Bangladesh” (2013), the “Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh” (2013) and the “Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety” (2013) were concluded. At the global level, the G7 and the International Labour Organization ILO committed themselves to concrete action to boost “labour rights, decent working conditions and environmental protection in global supply chains” (2015). Tazreen fire (2012) Rana Plaza after the collapse (2013)

Production workers behind bars, blocked fire exits, dangerous electrical installations – Fair Production is addressing these and other safety issues. WHAT WE CAN DO Today, there is a lot of attention and awareness, but in most of the garment factories, working conditions are still sub- standard. According to the ILO, in Bangladesh alone, 80 percent of export- oriented ready made garment factories need improvement in fire and electrical safety standards (November 2015). Fair Production can provide exactly that: training and advice to factory owners, employer’s organisations and government agencies (inspection and regulation) on building safety and safety related issues such as environment, worker’s rights, sustain- ability and gender. In Bangladesh for Accord, Alliance, ILO and the second tier factories that are not covered, as well as in other countries. Fair Production contributes directly to the increase of safety and safety awareness in textile factories in the Global South. “The building collapse in Dhaka reminds us all that ensuring that workers’ human rights are protected and respected within value chains involves a wide range of societal actors, including governments, employers, buyers and workers’ representatives.” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (2013) Training-education: Safety management training; training of trainers; support of brands, factory management and international organisations. Advice: Support of remediation activities; developing safety management systems; setting up test centres and education programs at local universities. Research: Independent or participatory research on safety and risk management in the production chain, development of tools and methods for safety assessment and management; assessment of second tier production facilities; setting up a long-term program at local universities.

PAST PERFORMANCE Training of RMG factory management on safety ( ) The safety problems in the Ready-Made- Garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh arise in part from the fact that factory owners and managers are not aware of their role and responsibilities in addressing these issues. To address this situation, a training has been set up for the management of supplier factories of their member brands. During the one day training management is informed about their responsibilities and is given the knowledge and the tools to address the safety issues in their factories regarding construction, fire and electrical safety. The training supports the ongoing inspection and remediation programs. Over 300 owners, managers and engineers have participated in these trainings over the course of 2014 and “ILO figures show 2.3 million men and women die every year from work-related accidents and diseases. An estimated 4 per cent of the world’s GDP is lost annually due to the costs of work-related accidents and diseases.” International Labour Organization (2015) Training of trainers for Young Union Leaders on safety (2015) Part of the international programs to improve safety in the RMG industry in Bangladesh is the organisation of unions in RMG factories, and setting up of OSHE (occupational safety and health) committees. For these committees to contribute successfully to safety in the factories, it is necessary that union members understand the safety issues. In 2015 training of trainers for Young Union Leaders in the RMG in Bangladesh was set up. In total 24 participants from 12 different unions were trained. Members from all umbrella organisations participated in the two-day training. In this very interactive training, they were taught the basic principles of construction, fire, and electrical safety. They also received training in how to train others in these topics, using simple methods and tools, such as a building model of an RMG factory, made of water bottles and carton.

“The Rana Plaza disaster was a turning point. Many improvements have been effectuated since. Inspections have been carried out and factories have been remediated. But it is far from ready; there still is much to be done. I will follow the developments very closely and stay committed.” Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Lilianne Ploumen (2015) The way garment factories deal with fire escape routes can endanger or save lives. Young female garment production workers in Bangladesh are regularly harrassed during fire drills, linking safety to gender issues.

Fair Production Dutch Health BV Middenweg BV Amsterdam, The Netherlands T: +31 (0) ABOUT US Fair Production was founded in It operates as a not-for-profit initiative within Dutch Health BV, an Amsterdam based enterprise providing medical equipment and services to the Global South. Dutch Health has over twenty years of experience in international projects and with international organisations such as the UN and World Bank. Serv Wiemers, Director Erik Wiersma, Safety Expert Having worked as a diplomat in China, advisor to the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Director of The Hague Institute for Global Justice, Serv Wiemers has gained extensive experience in economic diplomacy, policy development and corporate social responsibility. Erik Wiersma has worked as assistant professor of the Safety Science Group at Delft University of Technology for nineteen years, in research and education. Since 2013 he is involved in the improvement of safety in RMG in Bangladesh, and has provided various training sessions over there.