"Accord Reaches Resolution on Continuation of Its Work in Bangladesh", 19 May 2019

On 19 May 2019, the Accord presented a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the Appellate Court in Bangladesh in relation to the High Court order which would have closed the Accord Bangladesh office operations... The MoU has been accepted...and will result in the 2018 Transition Accord and Accord Bangladesh office and operations continuing in Bangladesh for 281 working days...

The MoU will lead to the establishment of a national RMG safety entity to be called the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC). After the transition period of 281 working days, the RSC will take over all Accord Bangladesh operations and will inherit the Accord infrastructure and staff.

 The RSC will be governed by a structure consisting of representatives of the BGMEA, global brands, and global and national trade unions. The RSC will work in cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to ensure the work of the RSC compliments the work of the GoB Remediation Coordination Cell...

...IndustriAll and UNI-Global state: “the MoU ensures that the functions and procedures of the Accord model and the voice of unions in policy and governance will be preserved with the establishment of the RMG Sustainability Council”.

Accord Steering Committee brand representatives state: “establishing this national industry / labour private initiative will make the past Accord achievement sustainable, establishing a local increased health & safety awareness and preserving the ability of the global brands and retailers to continue collaborating with their suppliers in the effort to achieve, maintain, and expand safety in the Bangladesh RMG industry”...