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Article

15 May 2013

Author:
Simon Neville, Guardian [UK]

Walmart refuses to join worker safety deal [Bangladesh]

Walmart has confirmed it will not sign up to a legally binding agreement on worker safety and building regulations in Bangladesh…[T]he…retail giant has created its own agreement, which it claims goes beyond the current accord…The company…said the deal signed by its rivals was "unnecessary to achieve fire and safety goals" and questioned the "governance and dispute-resolution mechanisms"…Bosses claim th[eir agreement] goes beyond the UNI Global Union and IndustriALL deal…[T]he Walmart deal is not legally binding…The agreement has been criticised by campaigners as…[it] fails to address…core problems…Walmart has…refused to clarify whether it sourced clothes from the Rana Plaza building…Walmart said: "The company…is not in a position to sign the IndustriALL accord at this time.” [also refers to Asda, H&M, Primark (part of Associated British Foods), Tesco, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, Next, C&A, River Island (part of Lewis Trust), Matalan, Peacocks (part of EWM Group), John Lewis (part of John Lewis Partnership), Arcadia, Topshop (part of Arcadia), BHS, Dorothy Perkins, Inditex, Phillips-Van Heusen, Tommy Hilfiger (part of Phillips-Van Heusen), Calvin Klein (part of Phillips-Van Heusen), Tchibo, El Corte Inglés, Mango, Carrefour, KiK, Helly Hansen, G-Star, Aldi, New Look, Mothercare, Loblaw Companies, Benetton, N Brown Group, Stockmann, Wallis (part of Arcadia), Evans (part of Arcadia)]