On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh, housing five garment factories, came crashing down. At least 1,138 people lost their lives. Many were killed instantly.  Many more were buried alive under eight stories of concrete and machinery, among the remains of the garments that they were producing for global corporations.  Thousands were injured and severely traumatized. Some people were forced to amputate their own limbs in order to escape this concrete grave.

The Rana Plaza building collapse is the deadliest disaster in the history of the global garment industry.

In the days and weeks immediately following the Rana Plaza disaster, the world united in pledging support for the survivors and victims’ families. Governments, apparel brands, and the public called for urgent change to the industry.  Unfortunately, change has been slow in coming, and many initial promises made have since eroded.   

Action remains urgently needed and necessary.  Some multinational brands are still refusing to pay what they owe in compensation. This is unacceptable. 

Join this global day of action, uniting with people worldwide to demand justice for the victims, to hold brands and retailers accountable and to ensure that vital and lasting changes are made in the global apparel industry.

On the Global Day of Action (April 24^th), and leading up to then, join us to call for industry reforms, demanding that people are put above profit, and safeguarding workers’ welfare and livelihoods.

IMMEDIATE DEMANDS:

• We demand that Rana Plaza survivors and victims’ families receive the full compensation they are entitled to.
• We demand all apparel brands and retailers doing business in Bangladesh sign the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety.

LONG-TERM DEMANDS: 

• We demand transparency and due diligence.
• We demand accountability and access to justice.
• We demand freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.

There must never be another Rana Plaza. The only way to ensure this is to thread these principles through the foundations of the industry.

Together we will continue to remember the victims who died for the price of the cheap clothes we wear. Together we must secure justice for their families through full compensation. Together we can reform the industry so that all garment workers are afforded a safe and dignified life.      

4/26/2015 update: Thanks to everyone who participated in the Global Day of Action: Remembering Rana Plaza!

• For photos from the day of action, visit our collective facebook event page.