'322 RMG factories substantially remediated'

The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety says 322 readymade garment factories or 88 percent affiliated with the initiative in the country have completed all material components in their corrective action plan.

Alliance Executive Director James Moriarty revealed the information at a news conference in Dhaka on Thursday. These factories, including 84 percent of items most critical to life safety, are now considered 'substantially' remediated, the former US ambassador in Dhaka said, reports bdnews24.com.

"I am pleased to note that the Alliance continues to achieve unprecedented progress in our efforts to improve safety within the ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh. Our factory remediation work is progressing at a rapid pace, and we remain on track to meet our stated commitments by the end of the year," he said.

According to him, 290 factories required structural retrofitting five years ago and 264 of those or 91 percent fully completed retrofitting, meaning their foundations, columns and beams are now able to meet the imposed load demands required of an industrial building.

He said 141 factories needed sprinkler systems and 118 of these or 84 percent completed installation of the systems extending the time available for people to escape from fires.