Two clothing factories in Bangladesh and Pakistan were inspected for safety conditions by independent auditing firms prior to 2012 fires that killed hundreds of employees, according to a new report by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO).
Entitled ‘Fatal Fashion,’ the report describes a fatal September 2012 blaze at Ali Enterprises in Karachi, in a November 2012 factory fire at Tazreen Fashions Limited in Dhaka. Both companies produce apparel for European and American clothing brands and retailers, including Walmart. More than 400 workers were killed in the incidents and many others were severely injured. Sub-standard buildings, poor emergency procedures, blocked fire exits, and overcrowded workplaces have been blamed for the high death toll. To date, the lion share of workers and families affected by the fires in Karachi and Dhaka have not yet received any compensation.
Both factories had been subjected to numerous audits by independent firms prior to the tragedies. Ali Enterprises received the SA8000 certificate just three weeks before its fire. Structural and highly visible safety deficits and falsified documentation of fire drills went unnoticed by auditors.
When safety hazards were pointed out, companies failed to take adequate action. A Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) audit found evidence of safety violations at Tazreen Fashions, however, the report was put in confidential database, and no follow-up was given.
CCC and SOMO say the factory fires detailed in the report are symptomatic of an ailing system.