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            Global Retailers Set Deadline for Bangladesh Safety Plan

   Western retailers have set May 15 (Wednesday) as the deadline to sign
   onto an agreement led by the International Labor Organization to
   improve working conditions at garment factories in Bangladesh.
   The deal comes as authorities end their search near the capital, Dhaka,
   for victims last month`s building collapse that killed 1,127 garment
   factory workers.
   The pact will require retailers to conduct independent safety
   inspections of factories and cover the costs of repairs and
   improvements.
   The safety deal brings together Sweden`s H & M chain, the largest buyer
   of garments from Bangladesh; the Dutch-owned C&A chain, Inditex, owner
   of the Zara clothing chain, and two British retailers -- Primark and
   Tesco. Additionally, the New York-based PVH Corporation -- the parent
   company of the Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Izod brands -- agreed
   to upgrade a similar agreement reached in 2012.
   Among the holdouts are the U.S. retail giant Walmart and Gap which have
   said they will launch their own safety program.
   Officials say nearly 2,500 people were rescued alive including a
   19-year old seamstress found Friday after being buried under the rubble
   of the building for 17 days.
   Authorities have arrested at least nine people in connection with the
   collapse, including the owner of the building.
   The government says it has shut down 18 garment factories for safety
   reasons following the collapse.
   This week the Bangladesh government announced plans to raise the
   minimum wage for garment workers and allow for the easier formation of
   labor unions.
   The April 24 accident near Dhaka sparked days of demonstrations by
   garment workers against their pay and working conditions.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/global-retailers-set-deadline-for-ban
   gladesh-safety-plan/1660713.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/global-retailers-set-deadline-for-bangladesh-safety-plan/1660713.html