An estimated 60 million garment workers could struggle to weather the crisis unless more brands take responsibility, according to several fashion industry insiders and watchers. Garment orders are down nearly a third, the International Textile Manufacturers Federation said. The 2013 disaster in Bangladesh that killed 1,135 garment workers sparked global efforts to improve labour conditions and rights but experts are divided on the pace and scope of reforms. "We must ensure workers rights and conditions are not rolled back due to the crisis," said Aruna Kashyap, senior counsel in the women's rights division of Human Rights Watch, who also called for the health of workers to be taken into account. "The history of the garment industry hasn't shown change to be very likely," the union's assistant secretary general said.

Source: bd News24 April 30, 2020 00:00 UTC