PRESS RELEASE
Clean Clothes Campaign Ireland
September 13th 2012.
325 garment workers die in an horrific garment factory fire in Karachi, Pakistan.
A fire that broke out on Tuesday evening 11th September 2012, has killed over 325 garment workers with reports that the death toll is expected to rise.
The Clean Clothes Campaign Ireland, an organisation set up to campaign for the human rights of garment workers within the global clothing supply chain, can report that poor building safety was responsible for the large death toll and that government inspectors had not visited any factories in the industrial zone where the fire took place. Unconfirmed reports indicate that well-known brands were producing in the factory and Clean Clothes Campaign Ireland is awaiting documentary evidence of the same.
Clare Nally of the Clean Clothes Campign Ireland commented today "This a stark reminder of the real cost of the fast and cheap, disposable fashion we have become accustomed to. 325 people have been reported dead but this is expected to rise over the next few days. In this case as with the many others that continue to happen within the garment supply chain, these deaths could have been avoided. Emergency exits were absent or locked, and workers were trapped. This is the usual pattern. It is well known that many workplaces are unsafe, and that workers in key producing countries risk their lives on a daily basis producing clothes for Europe and the USA."
Clean Clothes Campaign Ireland has introduced the Urgent Appeals campaigns to highlight those issues that most urgently need the public's attention. CCCI are focusing on three campaigns, 'Deadly Denim' 'Free Somyot' and 'Justice for Aminul Islam' all of which call for actions by members the public to show their support and solidarity for human rights defenders in garment producing countries.
However, it is incidents like this tragic and needless loss of life that highlights the true cost of the fashion industry's drive for low prices and high volume and is another reminder of the constant battle workers face to garner their basic human rights.
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For further information please contact
Rosie O'Reilly, Urgent Appeals Case Co-Ordinator,
Clean Clothes Campaign Ireland.
01 6618 375
www.cleanclothescampaignireland.org
on facebook www.facebook.com/CCCIreland and twitter @cleanclothesire
