The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety announced that human rights
expert and attorney Jeffrey Krilla has been named president of the
coalition representing 20 North American apparel companies, retailers
and brands. Krilla brings extensive foreign policy experience to the
position, having spent most of his career working around the globe on
trade, development and human rights issues.
While a lawyer at Dentons US LLP, Krilla co-chaired the firm's Africa
Committee and was the member of its Public Policy and Regulation
practice. Prior, Krilla served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. There he created the Department's
first-ever Office of International Labor Affairs and Corporate Social
Responsibility. He also co-chaired the Secretary's Global Internet
Freedom Task Force, working with technology companies and a coalition of
nongovernmental organizations to press governments around the world on
Internet freedom of speech issues. He represented the State Department
during free trade agreements to ensure the inclusion of labor provisions
that address worker safety and the right of assembly. He also led the
Department's efforts to address supply chain issues in the electronics
and apparel industries.
"Jeffrey's experience championing the
rights of workers around the globe makes him the ideal person to lead
the Alliance as it seeks to rapidly improve the lives of workers in
Bangladesh," said Ellen O'Kane Tauscher, Alliance Chair. "His extensive
foreign policy experience and his deep understanding of this issue will
guide the organization as it strives toward its goal of inspecting all
Alliance factories by next summer."
"I'm excited to join an
organization that is already making real progress in improving the lives
of Bangladesh garment workers," said Krilla. "Just nine weeks after
being formed, the Alliance has already achieved some significant
milestones and has been a part of fruitful discussions with key
stakeholders, including the ILO and the Accord, on developing common
safety standards that will transform conditions of our workers."
The
Alliance continues to make significant progress since it launched in
early July. Today, September 10, the Alliance achieved key milestones,
including:
Developed a draft set of common fire and building
safety standards. As part of the Alliance's commitment to transparency
and collaboration, the draft standards were shared in advance of and
discussed at the ILO-convened meeting in Dhaka on September 7.
Developed a fire and safety training curriculum framework for use by factory managers and employees.
In
process towards collaborating with partners on the ground to develop a
training program for workers, and a means for reporting workplace
concerns.
Last week, the Alliance was part of an ILO-moderated
discussion in Dhaka. A draft of the Alliance's common set of fire and
building safety standards were shared with the ILO, Accord, BGMEA, BUET
and the Bangladeshi Ministry of Labour and Employment in advance of the
meeting. Through continued discussions and acts of transparency, the
Alliance aims to make progress toward identifying a common, shared set
of standards that will ultimately serve to make garment factories in
Bangladesh safer.
About The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety
The
Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety was founded by a group of North
American apparel companies and retailers and brands who have joined
together to develop and launch the Bangladesh Worker Safety Initiative, a
binding, five-year undertaking that will be transparent,
results-oriented, measurable and verifiable with the intent of improving
safety in Bangladeshi ready-made garment (RMG) factories. Collectively,
these Alliance members represent the overwhelming majority of North
American imports of RMG from Bangladesh, produced at more than 500
factories.
The Alliance provides apparel companies and retailers
the unprecedented opportunity to come together and put forward concrete
solutions to issues that impact the global apparel and retail
industries. The current group of 20 includes the following companies:
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited; Carter's Inc.; The Children's Place
Retail Stores Inc.; Costco Wholesale Corporation; Gap Inc.; Hudson's Bay
Company; IFG Corp.; Intradeco Apparel; J.C. Penney Company Inc.; The
Jones Group Inc.; Jordache Enterprises, Inc.; Kohl's Department Stores;
L. L. Bean Inc.; Macy's; Nordstrom Inc.; Public Clothing Company; Sears
Holdings Corporation; Target Corporation; VF Corporation; and Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc.
Supporting associations include: American Apparel
& Footwear Association, BRAC, Canadian Apparel Federation, National
Retail Federation, Retail Council of Canada, Retail Industry Leaders
Association, and United States Association of Importers of Textiles
& Apparel. In addition, Li & Fung, a major Hong Kong-based
sourcing company which does business with many members of the Alliance,
will serve in an advisory capacity.
More information about the Alliance
can be found at www.bangladeshworkersafety.org.
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