FAST FASHION: BANGLADESH
April 24, 2013. 38 charged with murder. 1.135 people dead. The collapse of Rana Plaza marked the calendars as one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. The hazardous, eight story building catastrophe dominated the news cycle only to die down and be forgotten soon after. After four years, has anything changed?
In the wake of the disaster, companies, trade unions, and workers’-rights groups promised to improve working conditions within five years. Although, with the deadline coming up, it seems as though there’s still much to be completed. Anjali Kamat, from the Slate, recorded how one of the workers of a Bangladesh factory, Taslima Aktar, died from overworking despite her various requests for time off. Her body was later found near the factory’s gates. Aktar’s death “shattered [her coworkers’] illusions of safety.” It seems as though a collapse as ground shaking as Rana Plaza can’t even fix the corrupted views of those who own the factories. Cases like Aktar’s are extremely common and the blatant ignorance of the factory owners and brands shines through. Factory workers are left struggling to uphold a barely manageable income and it seems as though almost nothing has changed.
So, how can you help? Initially, it’s important to raise awareness about garment factories and their harsh conditions. Similar to trending hashtags like #bringbackourgirls that disappeared quickly, the Rana Plaza incident was dismissed with a sad tweet and post. Promoting the issue far from its end will help the causes of those working in developing countries. You can also donate to campaigns such as Labour Behind the Label who work to empower workers in garment factories. Cheaper clothes should not come at the cost of those struggling to work for a better future.
