Background History:

Alliance:
The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (Alliance) is a legally binding, five-year
commitment to improve safety in Bangladeshi ready-made garment (RMG) factories. The
Alliance was organized in 2013 through the Bipartisan Policy Center with discussions convened
and chaired by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME) and former U.S.
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), both of whom have a strong track record of forging consensus-
oriented solutions. The collaborative process involved apparel industry companies and
stakeholders including: the U.S. and Bangladeshi governments, policymakers, NGOs, members
of civil society, and organized labor.
The Alliance provides an unprecedented opportunity for apparel, retail, and branded company
members to come together and put forward concrete solutions that will be transparent, results-
oriented, measurable and verifiable. Collectively, the Alliance’s members represent the majority
of North American imports of RMG from Bangladesh. The Alliance holds each member and
their factories accountable to operate workplaces that are safe and effective in ensuring building
and fire safety.
Core Purpose:
The core purpose of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety is improving the safety of
workers in Bangladesh’s ready‐made garment sector (RMG). Crucial to achieving this aim is
improving the fire safety and structural integrity of RMG factories in the country. The final
Alliance Fire Safety and Structural Integrity Standard will help guide those improvements and,
paired with other programmatic aspects being implemented by the Alliance, will contribute to a
safer and more equitable garment sector for Bangladeshi workers.
Development of the Standard
The Standard was developed collaboratively by a group of technical experts from the Alliance
for Bangladesh Worker Safety and the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety. To help
ensure consistency in the countrywide evaluation of RMG factories, the technical requirements
of the Alliance Standard have been harmonized with the requirements of the factory assessment
guidelines developed by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for the
NTPA. Throughout this process, input was incorporated from factory owners in the Bangladesh
RMG industry, professors from BUET, and other technical experts. In order to facilitate dialogue
on realizing this common set of standards, the International Labor Organization (ILO) also
played a vital role.
In alignment with the NTPA, the Standard is founded on the requirements of the 2006
Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC), with a minimal number of stronger requirements
deemed necessary and practical. For example, in some areas the Standard draws on NFPA 101,
the International Building Code, and their reference documents for criteria.
Implementation
Implementation of the Standard will be supported by factory and worker training and input,
rigorous assessments by qualified assessors, and a corrective action management process that
includes transparent and public dissemination of improvement indicators. Beyond tracking and
reporting on action steps taken, the Alliance organization and its members will seek to further
support factory improvements through technical assistance, implementation of functional Worker
Health and Safety Committees, and in some cases financial assistance and wage support for
workers if factories are closed for remediation. Like all technical standards, practical experience
with the Standard will spur the need for modifications over time. The standards should be
periodically reviewed by qualified technical experts and modified as necessary on a periodic
basis. However, to maintain the clarity of a common standard, care will be taken to coordinate
any modification in partnership and support of the NTPA and other stakeholder initiatives.
Current Scenario:
Following the Rana Plaza building collapse in April 24, 2013, that killed more than 1,100
people, mostly garment workers, North American buyers and retailers formed the Alliance
undertaking a five-year plan, which set timeframes and accountability for inspections, trainings
and worker empowerment programmes in Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector.
‘In these past five years, the Alliance, member brands and the owners of Alliance-affiliated
factories have achieved unprecedented progress toward the goal of improving safety in
Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry, while simultaneously helping to solidify
Bangladesh’s standing as a global leader in garment exports
Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety has announced end of its tenure in Bangladesh.
The platform of North American fashion brands and retailers also said that from the beginning of
2019 the brands would engage a local company to monitor safety in the factories from which
they procure products. The platform made the announcement in its fifth and final annual report
issued in December 2018. One of the officials of Alliance said that December 31 was their last
office and then the platform closed its office in Dhaka.
With the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety winding down its operations at the end of 2018,
several former Alliance members and other brands committed to sustaining the culture of factory
safety in Bangladesh have launched Nirapon 2.0, a U.S. based nonprofit organization tasked with
overseeing the ongoing safety, training and helpline efforts of the factories from which Nirapon
members source."
Nirapon is not a regulatory agency, but a member organization tasked with serving as a single
point of contact for members and advises on safety issues. Nirapon has no authority to suspend
factories, instead, leaving sourcing and safety decisions to each of its members. The information
contained in this website is for information purposes only. Nirapon disclaims any liability for
injury, death or damages resulting from the use of this website or its programs.
On June 2020, it was reported, Nirapon – an alliance of North American buyers for the security,
supervision, inspection, and reform of ready-made garment factories – is leaving Bangladesh.
Moreover, on 22nd October 2019, following a writ petition filed by Dragon Sweater Limited, the
High Court imposed a six-month ban on Nirapon's activities. After Nirapon appealed against the
order, the Appellate Division on December 2, 2019 upheld the order. Barrister Imtiaz Moynul
Islam, a lawyer for Dragon Sweater Limited, informed that he would appeal to the High Court
again to extend the ban on Nirapon's activities. He said Nirapon may leave Bangladesh and go to
North America for fear of further escalation of the ban on security activities.
People concerned also said Nirapon had some problems regarding various issues with the
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Knitwear
Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
According to a statement posted on Nirapon's website on May 29,2020 the new organisation will
be based in North America. The Nirapon Board of Directors thanked the team for working
tirelessly and dedicating years to building a safer garment industry in Bangladesh. The outgoing
team was provided with severance packages.
It also reads Moushumi Khan, the CEO since Nirapon's inception, will be departing Nirapon and
a new Chief Safety Officer (CSO) will be named at a later date, reflecting Nirapon's more
technical nature. Khan led Nirapon with a steadfast commitment to worker safety in Bangladesh.
In a statement, Khan said, "As the inaugural CEO of Nirapon, it was my honour to help oversee a
successful transition from the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety to the new organisation. I
remain committed to worker safety in Bangladesh and look forward to supporting all those who
share this noble goal."
In April 2019, Nirapon was formed to monitor the structural, fire and electrical safety of factory
buildings according to the needs of American buyers and brands of ready-made garments.
Nirapon has decided to run most of the activities in Bangladesh through locally-appointed third
parties.