Value proposition

International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry

The International Accord is a legally binding framework agreement between global garment brands and trade unions with a mission to ensure safer workplaces in the textile and garment industry. The International Accord currently has country programs in Bangladesh (implemented by the RMG Sustainability Council) and Pakistan.

The agreement promotes worker safety through independent inspections, remediation, and training programs and recognises the rights of workers to organise, refuse unsafe work and raise health and safety concerns.

We recognise that safe workplaces cannot be ensured without worker participation in the journey to a safer garment and textile industry.

Through the involvement of brands, trade unions, factories, and workers in the textile and garment supply chain, the International Accord pursues three main goals:

1. Promoting a culture of workplace safety by training Safety Committees and encouraging workers to identify, address and monitor safety hazards at factories.

2. Preventing fire, electrical, structural, and boiler safety accidents through an inspections and remediation program led by specialist, independent engineers.

3. Providing a trusted avenue for workers to raise safety concerns through an independent complaints mechanism.