Deadly Foshan Factory Fire Puts Fashion’s Safety Gaps in Focus—Again

The Foshan factory fire, killing eight, is not an isolated incident. It highlights persistent safety failures across Asia's garment supply chain. These events occurred just two weeks after 300 global brands signed the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry. This accord aims to prevent such disasters, but its reach is limited.

The Accord currently covers only 1,760 factories in Bangladesh and Pakistan, about one-third of Bangladesh's export-oriented garment factories. This leaves tens of thousands of facilities unregulated and unsafe. The Accord's slow expansion to include critical hazards like boiler safety also points to a systemic problem. Brands and retailers must broaden its scope to all safety hazards and expand its geographic coverage.

The test for the Accord is its expansion beyond Bangladesh and Pakistan. Its framework allows for growth through 2029. However, industry players must push for this expansion and include all safety hazards. This is the only way to genuinely improve worker safety across the region.