Bangladesh Factory Fire: The Guilty Consumer

There has been a lot of news about the factory fire in Bangladesh on November 24th which occurred just as bargain-hunting Americans finished the traditional all-night (and day) after Thanksgiving shop-a-thon also known as Black Friday and spilling over the weekend.  

The fire occurred near the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, which produced clothing for large American and European retailers such as Walmart, Sears, H&M, Marks & Spencer, and Carrefour. The fire killed 112 workers in a building that lacked emergency fire exits and other standard safety measures. Workers jumped out of window that were not barred in an attempt to escape as exit doors were also locked to prevent worker theft.  The fire was sadly very reminiscent of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 in New York.


Questions are now arising over why this factory was still operating when it lost certification months earlier on June 30th and had expanded to eight floors with a ninth floor in progress when legally it was limited to 3 stories.  The government allowed the factory to continue production despite knowing these violations.

It is tragic that simple safety measures and enforcement of safety regulations could have prevented these deaths.  Events like these really remind me that I, as a consumers need to vote with my pocketbook in deciding where to spend my money.  Usually, the first thing I look at when I want to buy an article of clothing is the price and not the country of origin which produced these goods.  Would it surprise you that these garment workers along with poor working conditions were getting paid a minimum $37 a month in wages which would buy us 1/4 of a pair of jeans if even?  Low prices and fast fashion are perhaps to blame for the demand to churn out as much clothing as cheaply and quickly as possible.  

Not to single out Bangladesh, countries like China, Pakistan, India, etc. are all guilty of creating hazardous working conditions for workers.  It is crucial that we as consumers demand more transparency with regards to the fire-safety programs of a retailer's suppliers and contractors; not just for clothing but all goods.  Moreover, companies should make this information more readily available to the public.


Read More:
NY Times: Horrific Fire Revealed a Gap in Safety for Global Brands
NY Times: Fire Safety in Garment Factories
WSJ: Bangladesh: How Rules Went Astray