U.S. Retailers Promise to Promote Safety at Bangladesh Garment Factories, Los Angeles Times

July 12, 2013

A group of 17 American retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and Macy’s Inc., have signed on to a five-year agreement to help improve safety at garment factories in Bangladesh.

The accord is separate from a legally binding plan finalized earlier this week by more than 70 mostly European companies such as H&M and Zara owner Inditex. U.S. apparel sellers largely avoided the contract.

Instead, they said Wednesday that their coalition would seek inspections at all member-supported factories in Bangladesh within a year. The group promised transparency for the checkup results. In the next three months, a set of safety standards will be developed, according to the newly formed alliance. The criterion will be in place by October, it said.