Turkish unions to mark fatal Bangladesh factory collapse as part of Clean Clothes Campaign

ISTANBUL

The event will be held in front of the Benetton shop Istanbul's Kadıköy district's Bahariye Avenue at 7:30 p.m. April 24.

Turkish unions are set organize a demonstration of solidarity with the international “Clean Clothes Campaign” on April 24 to mark the first anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh that left over 1,000 dead.

The group of unions will call for more security for workers, urging internationally renowned companies to respect the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) procedures during an event in Istanbul's Kadıköy district.

“Some $40 million are necessary for the families of the 1,138 victims and for paying the treatment costs of the 2,000 workers who escaped alive. This amount has been calculated in line with the ILO’s standards. It has to be deposited to the DonorTrust fund, which is being managed by ILO. Only a third of that amount has been collected so far,” the unions said in their call to demonstration.

The campaigners also said they had called Turkish companies who produced in Bangladesh to sign a local agreement on fire and building security, including LC Waikiki, De Facto, Colins, Seven Hill, Mavi, Collezione and Batik. Only two – LC Waikiki and Mavi Jeans – have responded positively, the campaigners stressed.

“We will call on other Turkish brands to take responsibility in cleaning the blood stains from our clothes,” the statement said.

The Clean Clothes Campaign was launched 25 years ago as an initiative comprising to improve the conditions of textile workers, as well as raise awareness among consumers about workers' conditions.

The platform will mark this year the first anniversary of the world’s deadliest garment-factory tragedy in history with demonstrations across the world. 1,129 people were killed when the eight-story commercial building Rana Plaza, located in a suburb of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, collapsed following a fire. Nearly 2,515 injured people were rescued from the building.