Today is exactly two months before the first anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza, the worst industrial disaster to hit the garment industry, with 1,138 people killed and over 2,000 injured. To mark the day, Clean Clothes Campaign and partners in Bangladesh and around the world have launched the PAY UP! campaign calling on all brands connected with Rana Plaza or who source from Bangladesh to immediately pay into the Rana Plaza Arrangement’s Donor Trust Fund. What is the Rana Plaza Arrangement? The Rana Plaza Arrangement is a groundbreaking approach to ensuring that survivors and families of the victims of Rana Plaza receive the support for loss of income and medical expenses they desperately need. The combined commitment of the Ministry of Labour of the Government of Bangladesh, the local and international garment industry, local and international trade unions and non-governmental organisations, with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as neutral and independent chair has led to an approach that has one central Donor Trust Fund and a central claims process. The claims process, which will be implemented by a range of local organisations and international experts, will support victims, their families and their dependents to submit claims, assess the level of payments to be provided to each beneficiary, undertake medical assessments and provide follow up support where needed. The Arrangement’s voluntary Donor Trust Fund is now taking donations and will be able to start making payments into the victims accounts as soon as sufficient money is pledged. What are we calling for? The survivors and victims families have suffered enough and should not have to relive that horrible day without being secure that their financial losses at least are covered. They suffered terrible injuries, lost husbands and wives, children and parents, brothers and sisters; and will bear the physical and emotional scars for life. This can never be compensated for, but they can and should be compensated for loss of income and medical costs before the anniversary. We are calling on all brands to make a substantial contribution into the Donor Trust Fund that reflects their dealings with Rana Plaza, their relationship with Bangladesh, their ability to pay and most of all significantly contributes to the overall amount needed of US$40million. We will be campaigning on high streets, shopping centres, the streets of Dhaka and online in the next two months to ensure the survivors and families of victims do not have to wait any longer for compensation. What can you do? Our first action is to call on Benetton the Italian retailer who had an order in with a factory in the collapsed building to show leadership and commit to the fund. On Monday 24th February:
Near a Benetton store?
You can see regular updates about the campaign on our website and we will update you over the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support. In solidarity Clean Clothes Campaign
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