13 Years After Rana Plaza Collapse, Root Causes of ‘Death Traps’ Persist

Why It Matters

The lingering safety gaps expose millions of garment workers to life‑threatening conditions, threatening brand reputations and inviting regulatory scrutiny worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• Accord now covers 3 million workers in 2,200 factories
• Over 1,000 Bangladeshi factories lag on safety remediation
• 19 Rana Plaza cases still pending; compensation deemed inadequate
• Brands Hugo Boss and Ikea face protests over safety commitments
• Clean Clothes Campaign pushes expansion to fabric production and heat‑stress protection

Pulse Analysis

The Rana Plaza tragedy reshaped global apparel sourcing, prompting more than 200 European brands to sign the 2013 Fire and Building Safety Accord in Bangladesh. That agreement evolved into the International Accord for Health and Safety, extending its legally binding model to Pakistan in 2023 and now protecting nearly three million workers. While the Accord has driven measurable improvements—such as upgraded fire doors and structural reinforcements—its impact is uneven, with many smaller, unregistered factories operating outside its scope and continuing to pose severe risks.

Recent incidents underscore the Accord’s unfinished business. As of December 2025, over a thousand Bangladeshi factories have missed remediation deadlines, and 46 still lack finalized corrective‑action plans. Meanwhile, 19 civil and criminal cases linked to the Rana Plaza collapse remain unresolved, and compensation under Bangladesh law—about $1,630 for death and $2,038 for total disability—fails to meet victims’ needs. High‑profile brands like Hugo Boss and Ikea are under fire from labor groups for either withdrawing from safety agreements or relying on internal audit schemes that lack independent enforcement, prompting protests across Europe.

Looking ahead, the Clean Clothes Campaign is urging the Accord to broaden its coverage beyond final‑stage garment assembly to include fabric production, dyeing, and heat‑stress mitigation—issues increasingly linked to climate‑related hazards. Expanding the scope would protect an additional segment of the supply chain that remains vulnerable to unsafe practices. For brands, embracing a more comprehensive, legally binding safety regime is not just a moral imperative; it safeguards supply‑chain continuity, mitigates reputational risk, and aligns with growing consumer demand for ethically produced fashion.