February 12, 2014

Cornell Stops Sale of Apparel Linked to Labor Abuse in Bangladesh

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By SOFIA HU

Cornell will be the sixth university to require its apparel licensees to abide by the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a five year agreement between apparel companies and Bangladeshi unions which legally binds its signatories to create safe working environments, the University announced Wednesday.

The Accord was created in response to the fatal collapse of Rana Plaza, an eight story commercial building outside Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 24, which killed over 1,120 workers. The signatories have agreed to develop and support a fire and safety program to prevent future incidences, according to the Accord.

The Cornell Store will stop selling items from apparel companies that do not create safe working conditions for laborers and collaborate with Bangladeshi unions. (Connor Archard / Sun Senior Photographer)