The IAF, as all actors in the apparel industry, are watching the events in Bangladesh -the second-largest garment exporting country in the world- unfold with the strong hope that the caretaker government will be able to bring stability and reconciliation.
Our industry is a people’s industry and it stands to reason that at the moment the people in Bangladesh are reshaping their future, and this greatly impacts the apparel industry. But the responsibility our industry bears towards the well-being of the many workers also means that in situations like this, the system keeps a cool head and offers the necessary support.
Currently this means that brands and retailers that source in Bangladesh -and that have witnessed the industry’s sizeable safety and environmental investments- remain patient and committed. The sourcing community can actually play a role in fostering the stability in the country that it seeks, and that is by simply not leaving at this pivotal moment. The support of the global apparel industry is a factor determining the speed with which transformation in Bangladesh unfolds and stability returns. This is the moment where the obvious need for collaboration and solidarity across the supply chain is on full display to the world.
