Wal-Mart still ignoring Tazreen fire victims: IndustriALL

IndustriALL Global Union has urged garment retailers and brands that sourced garment items from Tazreen Fashions to clear the funds for the victims of the deadly fire on the eve of its third anniversary.

A total of 112 garment workers were burnt to death and 300 more badly injured in the fire at the factory in Ashulia, the worst industrial blaze in the country's apparel sector, on November 24, 2012.

The anniversary will be observed at a time when Wal-Mart, the biggest customer of Tazreen, is expecting massive sales on the occasion of the Thanksgiving Day on November 26.

The US brand still refuses to pay compensation to the victims' families and the injured, IndustriALL said in a statement.

One year ago, IndustriALL together with the Clean Clothes Campaign, a rights group; Dutch retail giant C&A and the C&A Foundation signed an agreement, brokered by the International Labour Organisation, to set up the Tazreen Claims Administration Trust to compensate the victims from a dedicated fund.

The Trust will make payments to cover the loss of income and medical treatment.

Brands and retailers with revenue over $1 million had been asked to pay a minimum of $100,000 into the fund, according to the statement. Only C&A, Li & Fung and German retailer KiK have so far contributed to the fund.

Tazreen workers also produced clothing for Spanish departmental store El Corte Ingles, Scottish brand Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Piazza Italia, Disney, Sears, Dickies, Delta Apparel and Sean John. Monika Kemperle, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL, said the Trust provides real hope to the victims who can expect to start receiving payments in the coming months.

“While we thank the brands that have already paid, we are completely dismayed that Tazreen's biggest customer, Wal-Mart, won't fork out [even] after three long years.

Once again, Wal-Mart is ignoring its responsibilities and failing victims,” she added. The aim of the Trust is to receive and review claims, and make the payments to the victims and the eligible family members of the deceased or missing.

Furthermore, a Tazreen steering committee comprising Bangladeshi groups that work directly with the affected families has been set up to advise the Trust.

“Thanks to the regular support of the ILO, the government of Bangladesh and the signatory organisations, we are happy to get the Tazreen Claims Administration Trust up and running,” said Mojtaba Kazazi, executive commissioner of the Tazreen Claims Administration.

“After all the hardship and trauma the victims and their families have been through, they will finally be able to receive the payments they are due.”

The payment scheme will build on the payments already made by the Prime Minister's Office and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association to the families of deceased and missing workers, according to the Trust.  So far, each victim received three-month salary and overtime allowance from BGMEA and Tk 1 lakh in compensation from a government fund.