parents in the fire. C&A also announced that it would implement a more stringent audit procedure. Future orders from Bangladesh must be preceded by a SOCAM audit (in addition to the initial Safety and Quality Assurance audit). The press release further specified that all C&A suppliers in Bangladesh will be subjected to SOCAM audits before the end of 2012. C&A issued another press release on 26 February 2013 in which further details about its response to the Tazreen fire were given. Financial support for victims: C&A will donate more than one million USD to the victims of the fire via the C&A Foundation. Recipients of financial support are: children who lost a parent at the fire; those injured and unable as yet to return to work and; families who lost a relative in the fire. C&A writes that 70 children from 46 families have been named as having lost at least one parent in the fire. An amount of USD 50 (4000 Taka) per month will be made available for each of these children until they reach the age of 18 years old. C&A further writes that 50 former employees of Tazreen fashions who were injured in the fire and are still unable to work will be supported by C&A. C&A will continue to pay the medical costs for each of these 50 people until such time as they are fully recovered and able to work. In addition C&A will pay for loss of earnings which this group has suffered. For each of the families who lost a relative in the fire C&A has donated 1,200 204 USD (BDT 100,000) per family. The distribution of this lump sum will be coordinated with the BGMEA. Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement: C&A writes in its press release that it will “re-examine a possible accession to the treaty.” C&A company representatives referred to the lack of willingness among other companies to agree to a respective memorandum of understanding, which would render practical implementation difficult. “Few brands cannot effect the necessary change in regard to fire safety which is required in Bangladesh,” Mr. Chamberlain said. “To ensure safe and healthy working conditions in the future it is essential that initiatives are developed which involve multiple stakeholders, and will lead to fundamental change on the ground.”205 By the end of February 2013, C&A reported to SOMO and CCC that all units used for C&A production in Bangladesh that had not yet been subjected to a SOCAM audit (as was the case with Tazreen) were now all audited by SOCAM and that future orders (not just those from Bangladesh but from all countries in which C&A production takes place) must be preceded by a SOCAM audit.
204
C&A press release, “C&A announces support for victims of fire in Bangladeshi garment factory”, 26 February 2013. 205 Ibid.
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