Source: Just-Style; by Michelle Russell.

The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety has suspended the operations of a further four garment factories for failing to provide evidence of their remediation progress.

The move, part of the Alliance’s efforts to make Bangladesh’s garment factories safe, brings the total number the organisation has now cut ties with to 95.

Meanwhile within the last month, four other factories have been commended for completing all of the material components outlined in their Corrective Action Plans, or CAPs.

“We are pleased to welcome Reliance Box Industries (PKG), Radial International Ltd (Units 1 & 2), Mastrade International Garments Ltd and M/S Standard Group Ltd to our growing list of factories that have completed the repairs we required as part of the remediation process,” says Alliance country director Jim Moriarty. “And in suspending four additional factories from the Alliance compliant list, we reiterate our no-tolerance policy for factory inaction when it comes to workplace safety.”

The Alliance performs independent inspections on the structural, electrical and fire safety of all factories from which its members source. Each factory is then provided with a CAP designed to help it address safety issues and achieve compliance with Alliance safety standards. The Alliance also provides technical advice and access to low-cost loans to assist factories with remediation.

Now into the second half of its five-year initiative, the Alliance has brought the total number of factories that have completed the critical repairs outlined in their CAPs to 38 – out of around 950 factories that its 28 member companies source from. Additionally, 59% of all safety issues in Alliance factories have been corrected.

On top of factory safety issues, Bangladesh has recently been rocked by two terrorist attacks this year which have left the country’s key garment industry in turmoil. Despite the fears, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) says it is “business as usual” for the sector.