But Best and Less says it maintains 'stringent ethical sourcing code'
ActionAid Australia, a women’s rights organisation, has expressed its dismay over discount retailer Best and Less choosing not to sign an international safety accord regarding factory safety, as reported in an article by news.com.au.
Farah Kabir, ActionAid Bangladesh country director, said she was disappointed with the company’s decision to pull back from signing the accord after the organisation had claimed that Best and Less had initially moved to signing it.
“Best and Less needs to do the right thing and sign the accord for workers so Australian shoppers can be assured the clothes they are buying aren’t putting workers’ lives at risk,” said Kabir.
“If all Australian clothing retailers signed up to the accord, it would support a system that secures the safety of all garment workers in factories in Bangladesh in news.com.au. This would create a level playing field and no retailer would get an advantage by sourcing cheaper garments from unsafe factories,” she added.
Notably, during the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh last year, Best and Less had said that it will be signing the accord. The disaster took the lives of 1,100 garment workers when the Rana Plaza factory collapsed, resulting to moves to raise the safety standards within the garment industry in South Asia.
The accord serves as a legally binding agreement among global fashion brands and trade unions.
‘Stringent ethical sourcing code’
According to ActionAid, Best and Less continued to source their products form factories in Bangladesh that did not meet the standards of the accord. Michelle Higelin, ActionAid Australia’s executive director, stated that the retailer’s decision to not sign the accord meant that it was “freeriding off their competitors” as other brands were paying for safety improvements which was part of the obligations under the accord, said news.com.au.
A spokesperson from Best and Less stated that the firm was practicing ethical sourcing seriously and it was consistently abiding by the accord in its approach.
“We maintain a stringent ethical sourcing code, release an annual modern slavery report and work collaboratively with our trusted suppliers, which include regular site visits to establish a fair pricing model that also maintains an offering our customers depend on,” the spokesperson said.
