Swedish fashion retailer H&M and other western brands have been accused of failing to fulfil commitments made after the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster to ensure that the Bangladeshi factories making their clothes are safe.

International labour activists say efforts to guarantee that Bangladesh factory buildings are structurally sound and meet fire-safety standards lag far behind schedule.

Unions are initiating a formal complaint against H&M and other brands to account for the slow progress in their supplier factories, the first step in a complaint process that could lead to arbitration.

“The pace of remediation is too slow, and we are committed to ensure that it gains in speed,” said Ben Vanpeperstraete, supply chain co-ordinator of IndustriALL Global Union. – (The Financial Times Ltd)