"Primark, Asos among 33 signatories to new Pakistan Accord", 16 February 2023

The International Safety Accord for Pakistan has secured 33 signatories just one month since its opening for new members, with Primark, Next plc, Asos and C&A the latest brands to sign up.

The latest tranche of signatories to the Pakistan Accord now covers over 300 factories in the South Asian country. It marks one month since the start of the sign on process...

The Pakistan Accord was announced by signatory brands and unions on 14 December 2022 as the first country in addition to Bangladesh where the International Accord model will operate...

Zehra Khan, founder and general secretary of the Home Based Women Workers Federation, said: “We are happy that garment and textile workers in Pakistan will no longer have to fear for their lives at work. Workers in other countries should not have to wait another ten years before also being brought under this effective safety agreement.”

The Pakistan Accord is a legally binding agreement between global union federations, UNI Global Union and IndustriALL Global Union, and garment brands and retailers for an interim term of three years starting in 2023...

Building on widespread safety improvements in Bangladesh, the Pakistan Accord includes all key International Accord features: independent safety inspections to address identified fire, electrical, structural and boiler hazards, monitoring and supporting remediation, a safety committee training and worker safety awareness programme, an independent complaints mechanism, a commitment to broad transparency, and local capacity-building to enhance a culture of health and safety in the industry.