Global Consumer Watchdog Applauds White House for Suspending Trade Privileges with Bangladesh

SumOfUs.org holds corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable and just path for our global economy.

(WASHINGTON DC) - Statement by Kaytee Riek, campaign manager for SumOfUs.org, on President Obama’s decision to suspend trade privileges with Bangladesh over concerns about safety problems and labor rights violations in that country’s garment industry:

“We join with workers across the world in applauding President Obama and the White House for taking steps to pressure the Bangladeshi government to follow through with improving the working conditions for garment workers throughout the country.  We hope the White House’s actions today will remind apparel companies, specifically American brands like Gap Inc and Walmart, of the continuing dire conditions in garment factories in Bangladesh and the need to sign the Bangladesh Safety Accord and protect workers from death traps.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/business/us-to-suspend-trade-privileges-with-bangladesh-officials-say.html?hp&_r=0&gwh=1AF33370E77E29D7DA156FCCE7272C34

In the last few months, SumOfUs.org in collaboration with the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, the International Labor Rights Forum, United Students Against Sweatshops, and Avaaz have worked with several international companies including the Italian brand Benetton, Swedish company H&M, Spanish brand Zara, PVH (owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger) and Canadian brand Joe Fresh into to the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement.

SumOfUs.org is a global movement of consumers, investors, and workers all around the world, standing together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable and just path for our global economy.