BANGLADESH SAFETY CONTRACT

That this House notes that a number of companies have now signed a voluntary safety contract in the aftermath of the Bangladesh garment factory disaster which is now known to have killed at least 1,127 people; further notes that the safety contract is intended to ensure higher fire and safety standards at manufacturing facilities in the region; further notes that a number of US-based large retailers which sell in the UK have yet to sign up to this contract; welcomes this initiative; deplores the companies which have not yet signed; believes that a voluntary contract is no substitute for legal requirements on Western companies being supplied from Bangladesh and other developing countries to ensure proper safety standards and decent working conditions in their supply chain with the threat of severe penalties for breaches of such a law; and calls on the Government, therefore, to legislate to this effect with alacrity.