Clothing Firms Make First Gifts to Bangladeshi Factory Fund

Five global clothing manufacturers and retailers have been identified as the inaugural contributors to a drive to raise $40-million for victims of the April 2013 collapse of a Bangladesh garment factory that killed more than 1,100 workers, writes The New York Times.

The Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund announced Sunday that El Corte Inglés, Inditex, Loblaw, Mango, and Mascot have donated to the campaign, which grew out of drawn-out talks among clothing firms, labor groups, and Bangladeshi government and industry representatives. Activists hope to press other major brands to give as well.

Compensation for victims of the April 24 Rana Plaza building collapse has been complicated by questions over whether global brands that placed orders with the factory bear any responsibility for unsafe conditions there. Dan Rees of the International Labor Organization, which is managing the trust fund, said it has been structured so that contributions are voluntary and do not imply any liability for the disaster.