Victims of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka are still awaiting compensation two years on, The Guardian reported.
Demonstrations are planned to take place in Bangladesh this Friday to mark the second anniversary of the collapse of the garment factory in Savar where more than 1,100 people died.
The agreed $30m compensation fund is still $8m (£5m) short, and rallies are due to take place where the factory once stood as well as in the centre of Dhaka.
On 17 April, Benetton became the last of the 29 western brands that produced clothes at Rana Plaza to donate to the fund.
Despite initially denying that it used any of the firms within the factory complex, the fashion retailer gave $1.1m (£740,000). Benetton says this is twice the amount suggested by the accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers, and it has also set up its own rehabilitation programme for victims, but campaigners say this is not enough.
Kamrul Anam, IndustriALL Bangladesh Council said: “We will organise a human chain in front of the national press club, then we will place flowers at the Rana Plaza site and at the graveyard.
Two years have gone and the victims and their families have not got their compensation, so they are anxious the brands and buyers pay their contribution. That’s why all the union groups are seriously annoyed.”
There have been some improvements in working conditions since the disaster, according to Taherul Islam, of the Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE).
“The Accord Alliance is trying to find local shortcomings in the buildings, for fire safety, but many issues related to health and safety remain,” he said.
National and international NGOs have set up support programmes to provide vocational training to survivors as well as offering children education support, although Islam said the disorganisation is causing confusion and frustration.
The global campaign, Fashion Revolution, is demanding greater transparency in the fashion industry, encouraging consumers to ask retailers wher their clothes are made and organising protest events in 68 countries on 24 April.
Nawshin Khair, fashion revolution country coordinator for Bangladesh said: “Instead of pointing out the negatives, I’d rather work actively towards improving the [clothing] industry, because it’s not going away.”
Just think about the Bhopal disaster-still no real closure, limited compensation and US management of the hook too. Deja vu all over again.
This is how much some in the west value third world people. Same in the Med, as we speak.
UK to take fewer than 150 refugees from Syria-shameful