The US House of Representatives has approved a defence authorization bill that requires the Bangladesh-based readymade garment manufacturing units, who process the US military-branded garments (military exchanges), to comply with fire and building safety accord.
The garment units supplying military exchanges to the US should uphold the national core values of the US and meet international labor standards, said a statement jointly released by US Reps. Jan Schakowsky and George Miller.
The release says, “The military exchanges that sell their own branded garments which are made in Bangladesh must join or abide by the conditions of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.”
“Military exchanges, that license production of their own brands or sell other branded garments at retail, shall provide a preference in selection of vendors to those which are signatories to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh,” the statement added.
Last year, the Army-Air Force Exchange imported 124,000 pounds of garments from several apparel units based in Bangladesh.
Around 50 international retail and fashion brands based in Europe and Canada have signed onto the Accord, while only three US brands have given their nod for the same.
Source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/apparel-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=147515
