The University of Toronto strengthens its commitment to global worker safety
Published: August 4, 2015
The University of Toronto community worldwide can wear U of T apparel with even more pride knowing that the University is taking steps to safeguard workers' rights in Bangladesh apparel factories.
U of T has announced it will be adding a requirement to its Trademark Licensing Policy aimed at protecting workers in Bangladesh apparel factories. Effective July 1, 2015, all licensees who source, produce or purchase collegiate apparel for the U of T in Bangladesh must sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, an independent agreement designed to make all garment factories in Bangladesh safe workplaces.
The U of T is the first Canadian university with a Trademark Licensing program that supports the Accord by requiring licensees with operations in Bangladesh to become signatories.
“The U of T is committed to ensuring that all university apparel is manufactured under conditions that are humane and free from exploitation,” said Anne MacDonald, director of ancillary services. “Through our support of the Bangladesh Accord, we have increased our effort to protect the lives and safety of workers in that country.”
Bangladesh was the site of several horrific apparel factory tragedies in 2012 and 2013, including the Rana Plaza building collapse, in which more than 1,100 people died. The garment-factory accident is considered the deadliest of its kind in history, as well as the most fatal accidental structural failure in modern times.
Read about the U of T students who raised funds for victims of the Savar factory collapse
Wage rates in Bangladesh have made it an extremely attractive destination for global apparel sourcing and unfortunately, building and fire codes in the country are poorly enforced and many factories operate under dangerous and potentially life-threatening conditions. The Accord requires independent safety inspections at factories and public reporting of the results of these inspections. These measures will lead to remediation and further prevention training.
The U of T’s support of the Accord will require licensees who conduct business in Bangladesh to sign a letter acknowledging the Accord requirement. Licensees that do not support the Accord will not be renewed.
So far, more than 200 international companies with manufacturing operations in Bangladesh have signed on to the Accord.
The University’s Trademark Licensing Policy, established in 2000, was instituted to ensure that merchandise bearing the university’s official marks is manufactured under humane, non-exploitative conditions. The University of Toronto was the first Canadian university to have such a policy, and has also exercised leadership in its implementation of this policy over the last 15 years.
