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Bangladeshi mourners gather at wreckage of garment factory Bangladeshi mourners gather at wreckage of garment factory
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of mourners have gathered at the wreckage of a Bangladeshi garment factory building to offer prayers for the souls of the 1,127 people who died in the structure's collapse last month, the worst tragedy in the history of the global garment industry. Thousands of mourners have gathered at the ruins of a Bangladeshi garment factory building to offer prayers for the souls of the 1,127 people who died in the structure's collapse last month, the worst tragedy in the history of the global garment industry.
The Islamic prayer service was held a day after the army ended the nearly three-week, painstaking search for bodies among the rubble and turned control of the site over to the civilian government for cleanup. The Islamic prayer service was held a day after the army ended the nearly three-week, painstaking search for bodies among the rubble and turned over control of the site to the civilian government for the clean-up.
Recovery workers got a shocking boost on Friday when they pulled a 19-year-old seamstress alive from the wreckage. But most of their work has entailed removing corpses that were so badly decomposed from the heat they could only be identified if their cell phones or work IDs were found with them. The last body was found Sunday night. Recovery workers were encouraged on Friday when they pulled a 19-year-old seamstress alive from the wreckage. But most of their work has entailed removing corpses that were so badly decomposed from the heat they could only be identified if their cell phones or work IDs were found with them. The last body was found on Sunday night.
The mourners raised their cupped hands in prayer on Tuesday and asked for the salvation of those who lost their lives when the Rana Plaza building collapsed on April 24. They also prayed for the injured still in the hospital. The mourners raised their cupped hands in prayer on Tuesday and asked for the salvation of those who lost their lives when the Rana Plaza building collapsed on 24 April. They also prayed for the injured still in the hospital.
Major General Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy, the military commander who had been supervising the site, thanked all those involved in the work. He said the army has prepared a list of 1,000 survivors of the collapse that it would hand to the government with the recommendation they be given jobs on a priority basis. Major Gen Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy, the military commander who had been supervising operations,said the army had prepared a list of 1,000 survivors it would hand to the government with the recommendation they be given jobs on a priority basis.
The tragedy came months after a fire at another garment factory in Bangladesh killed 112 workers.The tragedy came months after a fire at another garment factory in Bangladesh killed 112 workers.
With global pressure mounting on Bangladesh and the brands it manufactures for, several of the biggest Western retailers embraced a plan on Monday that would require them to pay for factory improvements. With global pressure mounting on Bangladesh and the international firms that operate there, several of the biggest western retailers agreed on Monday to pay for factory improvements.
Swedish retailing giant H&M, the biggest buyer of garments from Bangladesh; British companies Primark and Tesco; C&A of the Netherlands; and Spain's Inditex, owner of the Zara chain, said they would sign a contract that requires them to conduct independent safety inspections of factories and cover the costs of repairs.Swedish retailing giant H&M, the biggest buyer of garments from Bangladesh; British companies Primark and Tesco; C&A of the Netherlands; and Spain's Inditex, owner of the Zara chain, said they would sign a contract that requires them to conduct independent safety inspections of factories and cover the costs of repairs.
The pact also calls for them to pay up to $500,000 a year toward the effort and to stop doing business with any factory that refuses to make safety improvements. The pact also calls for them to pay up to $500,000 (£327,000) a year toward the effort and to stop doing business with any factory that refuses to make safety improvements.
Two other companies agreed to sign last year: PVH, which makes clothes under the Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Izod labels, and German retailer Tchibo. Among the big holdouts are Wal-Mart Stores, which is the second largest producer of clothing in Bangladesh, and Gap. Two other companies agreed to sign last year: PVH, which makes clothes under the Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Izod labels, and German retailer Tchibo.Wal-Mart Stores, which is the second largest producer of clothing in Bangladesh, and Gap have not agreed to sign.
Gap, which had been close to signing the agreement last year, said on Monday that the pact is "within reach", but the company is concerned about the possible legal liability involved. Gap, which had been close to signing the agreement last year, said on Monday the pact was "within reach", but the company is concerned about the possible legal liability.
"This agreement is exactly what is needed to finally bring an end to the epidemic of fire and building disasters that have taken so many lives in the garment industry in Bangladesh," Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, one of the organisations pushing for the agreement."This agreement is exactly what is needed to finally bring an end to the epidemic of fire and building disasters that have taken so many lives in the garment industry in Bangladesh," Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, one of the organisations pushing for the agreement.
Bangladesh has about 5,000 garment factories and 3.6 million garment workers. It is the third biggest exporter of clothes in the world, after China and Italy. Bangladesh has about 5,000 garment factories and 3.6 million garment workers. It is the third biggest exporter of clothes in the world after China and Italy.
Working conditions in the $20 billion industry are grim, a result of government corruption, desperation for jobs, and industry indifference. Minimum wages for garment workers are among the lowest in the world at 3,000 takas ($38) a month. Working conditions in the $20bn industry are grim, a result of government corruption, desperation for jobs, and industry indifference. Minimum wages for garment workers are among the lowest in the world at 3,000 takas ($38) a month.
On Monday, Bangladesh's cabinet approved an amendment lifting restrictions on forming unions in most industries, government spokesman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said. The old 2006 law required workers to obtain permission before they could unionise. The day before, the government set up a new minimum wage board that will issue recommendations to the cabinet for pay raises for garment workers. On Monday, Bangladesh's cabinet approved an amendment lifting restrictions on forming unions in most industries, government spokesman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said. The 2006 law required workers to obtain permission before they could unionise. The day before, the government set up a new minimum wage board that will issue recommendations to the cabinet for pay raises for garment workers.
Government officials also have promised improvements in safety in an industry where at least 1,800 people have been killed in factory fires or building collapses since 2005.Government officials also have promised improvements in safety in an industry where at least 1,800 people have been killed in factory fires or building collapses since 2005.
Bangladesh's government has in recent years cracked down on unions attempting to organise garment workers. In 2010 the government launched an industrial police force to crush street protests by thousands of workers demanding better pay and working conditions. Bangladesh's government has in recent years cracked down on unions attempting to organise garment workers. In 2010, the government launched an industrial police force to crush street protests by thousands of workers demanding better pay and working conditions.
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