The International Accord, an organisation that works to uphold safety standards for factory employees, has announced that clothing giant Gap has signed the Pakistan wing of the Accord.
In a LinkedIn post, the International Accord said that the retailer had signed the agreement which aims to protect worker’s rights to safety within the supply chain.
As it stands, there are 65 signatories that work to enhance safety within the garment supply chain industry.
Other fashion companies which are on the list include American Eagle and Aerie’s parent company AEO Inc., Fast Retailing, Inditex, H&M, Hugo Boss, G-Star, Puma and PVH Corp.
The Pakistan accord was established earlier this year and is not specific to just the fashion industry.
While both agreements are designed to promote worker safety, the Pakistan Accord introduced a broader scope than some of its other country-specific counterparts.
It covers not only fabric mills but other types of factories where materials and garments are processed. and its health and safety criteria covers not only building and fire regulations but also covers harassment, gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and assault, and excessive working hours.
As part of the agreement, companies need to conduct regular inspections and publish information about facilities, as well as conduct safety training for employees in these facilities.
