The Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh in April 2013 made global news. With more than 1000 dead it was the most serious accident in the garment industry ever. The accident also raised major concerns about the working conditions in Bangladesh’s garment industry and questions about western companies’ lack of control and supervision of their supply chains.
Has this tragic wake-up call at least led to significant improvements in the situation of workers in Bangladesh? Have families of victims been compensated? Do Western companies that have produced in Bangladesh now have a firmer grip on what is happening in their supply chain? Are consumers aware of the incident and its aftermath?
This Social Europe Report collects the contributions to a project on the topic run in cooperation with the FES Dhaka. It introduces fresh ideas to address the vital issues surrounding the disaster.