Today is the one-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster which claimed the lives of over 1100 factory workers in one of the worst industrial accidents in recent history.

The Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh, St Albans MP Anne Main, remarked that ‘today is a day for remembering the victims of this awful disaster, and taking stock of where we are and how we can progress an industry that is so vital to the future prosperity of the country.’

Members of the APPG, including Anne, Simon Danczuk, Nick de Bois, Shabana Mahmood, Rushanara Ali and Jonathan Reynolds went on a cross-party fact-finding mission after the factory collapsed, and produced a report, After Rana Plaza. The study acknowledged the economic success of readymade garment industry (RMG) in Bangladesh and made recommendations on the necessary changes required to ensure its long term viability.

The report has been well-received and was welcomed by the Department for International Development (DfID) in February this year. Anne said “I was pleased to see our report was warmly received by the Department and recognises the industry’s role in reducing poverty and empowering women.

“DfID’s detailed response shows that our endeavours are being taken seriously and that progress is being made. I particularly welcome the 77% rise in the minimum wage and the rapid increase of factory inspections, which has seen one-quarter of the 4,000 factories inspected in the last year.

“There is clearly still much to be done, and the inertia of compensation pay-outs is worrying, especially when you see the debilitating condition of some of the survivors, and the emotional trauma inflicted upon them.

“The APPG will be meeting to discuss the current situation in Bangladesh with the British High Commissioner next month. One year on, it is appropriate we sustain the pressure on all stakeholders, government and big brands and the APPG is committed to that.”

| After Rana Plaza