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What is International Accord Pakistan – Background
International garment brands and global trade unions expand the Accord workplace
safety program to Pakistan
The International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry is extending its reach to Pakistan, aiming to implement a comprehensive workplace health and safety program. This program will cover the garment and textile suppliers of the signatories involved. Established as the Pakistan Accord on Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, it represents a legally binding agreement between global unions such as IndustriALL and UNI Global Union, and various garment brands and retailers. The initial term of this agreement spans three years, commencing in 2023.
Drawing from the positive safety advancements witnessed in Bangladesh, the Pakistan Accord mirrors the key features of the International Accord. These include independent safety inspections targeting fire, electrical, structural, and boiler hazards, along with monitoring and facilitating remediation efforts. Additionally, the program emphasizes Safety Committee training, worker safety awareness initiatives, an independent complaints mechanism, a commitment to transparency, and local capacity-building to foster a culture of health and safety within the industry.
Joris Oldenziel, Executive Director of the International Accord Foundation, expressed satisfaction in the establishment of the workplace safety program in Pakistan. He underlined the commitment of the signatories to collaborate closely with Pakistani stakeholders, ensuring that collective efforts yield tangible benefits for the industry and its workforce.
The successful safety initiatives in Bangladesh motivated the signatories to extend similar programs to other textile and garment-producing nations. Through surveys, research, and consultations with local stakeholders, the Accord Secretariat identified Pakistan as a priority country for expansion. This decision was partly influenced by Pakistan’s significance as a sourcing country for garment and textile products for Accord brands.
Extensive engagement has been initiated in Pakistan by the International Accord, involving federal ministries, provincial governments, industry associations, suppliers, trade unions, and civil society organizations. The implementation of Pakistan Accord programs will occur gradually, in collaboration with these stakeholders and through the establishment of a national governance body.
The Pakistan Accord covers various types of facilities within the textile and garment industry supply chains, including Cut-Make-Trim (CMT) facilities, such as Ready-Made Garment (RMG) producers, home textile manufacturers, fabric and knit accessories suppliers, and vertically integrated facilities. Fabric mills within these supply chains will also be included in later stages of the program. The ultimate goal is to encompass more than 500 factories producing for over 100 Accord signatory companies across the Sindh and Punjab provinces, where the majority of Pakistan’s $20 billion in garment and textile exports are manufactured annually.
The decision to expand the Accord to Pakistan was formally announced during a meeting of signatory brands held on 14 December 2022. Brands will receive comprehensive information on the Pakistan Accord and will be invited to join the initiative starting from 16 January 2023.
