IN a country where industrial and workplace accidents are common, the recent signing of the Pakistan Accord by signatories to the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry is a progressive step where workers’ well-being is concerned. The multinational instrument, which nearly 200 top global brands and two worldwide unions have signed onto, was created in the aftermath of the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster. That building collapse in Bangladesh had resulted in over 1,000 fatalities. Following the tragedy, global brands that sourced material from Bangladesh, together with trade unions, came together to create a framework that would help improve safety at the workplace. The accord succeeded in improving workplace conditions and after positive results in Bangladesh, the framework has now come to Pakistan. The new accord will focus on the textile and garment sector, and plans on covering over 500 factories primarily in Sindh and Punjab. Amongst other goals, the accord aims to identify fire, electrical and boiler hazards and raise awareness amongst workers, along with promoting a culture of safety at the workplace. Workers will also be able to confidentially lodge complaints if they feel that safety norms are being violated at their facilities. Local labour activists have hailed the Pakistan Accord as a major step towards improving workplace safety.

As stated at the outset, Pakistan’s own record where workplace safety is concerned is not a very good one. The 2012 fire at the Ali Enterprises garment factory in Karachi’s Baldia Town, in which over 250 people perished, is considered one of the country’s worst industrial disasters. However, less lethal incidents occur frequently, usually involving exploding boilers, chemicals stored dangerously, short-circuits and other hazards. Therefore, it is hoped that the accord spurs industries other than textiles and garments to improve workplace safety. And while such accords are mostly the work of local and foreign activists, the state needs to take a greater interest in the enforcement of health and safety regulations for workers.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2022