Labour rights activists to join Wal-Mart protests in US

Tags on clothes made in Bangladesh for Faded Glory, a brand owned by Wal-Mart. Photo:Reuters

Bangladeshi rights activists will demonstrate at Wal-Mart's annual general meeting on June 7 in the US, to pile pressure on the world's largest retailer to pay more for products from here, ultimately improving labour conditions.
Kalpona Akter, executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, will join the demonstrating workers of Wal-Mart at the meeting on Friday in Bentonville, Arkansas, a lobby group, Making Change at Wal-Mart, said in a statement.
Sumi Abedin, a survivor of the Tazreen fire that killed 112 in November, is also in the US to join Kalpona in the protests, according to the statement.
Making Change at Wal-Mart is a campaign challenging Wal-Mart to help rebuild the economy and strengthen working families.
Demonstrators will also urge shareholders to push for improved working conditions and safety in the supply chain.
“Wal-Mart and the other large retailers hold the key to ending senseless deaths in garment factories throughout the world,” Kalpona said.
“Wal-Mart must ensure good pay and safe working conditions for all workers in its supply chain: from factories to warehouses to stores.”
Kalpona will meet hundreds of Wal-Mart workers, members of Organisation United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), at the culmination of their week-long 'Ride for Respect', a caravan that has taken workers through nearly 30 cities in Bentonville for the annual Wal-Mart shareholder meeting.

Tags on clothes made in Bangladesh for Faded Glory, a brand owned by Wal-Mart. Photo:Reuters

Workers are on strike to protest Wal-Mart's retaliation against them for speaking out for the company to do better.
The Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity has worked with several large retailers to improve safety regulations in Bangladeshi factories.
Many of them, including Marks and Spencer, have agreed to sign an agreement on fire and building safety, but Walmart did not.
“After the Rana Plaza incident, there is more discussion on the horrid labour conditions inside the factories that produce clothing for major global brands like Wal-Mart,” Kalpona said.
“Unfortunately, as other retailers start to take responsibility, Wal-Mart and Gap continue to turn a blind eye.”
In May, investors and religious groups signed a letter addressed to retail giants, asking for better working conditions in the overseas factories and more respect for human rights.
In April, Kalpona toured the US with Sumi.
Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity is a labour organisation in Bangladesh, Europe and the United States that developed the Accord on Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety.
More than 40 major brands, including Marks and Spencer, Carrefour, H&M, Benetton, Abercrombie and Fitch, and PVH, owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, have signed the agreement, but Wal-Mart has refused to do so.