Target, Walmart commit to improving worker safety in Bangladeshi factories

Nearly 20 retailers, including Target and Walmart, have unveiled a plan for improving worker safety in Bangladeshi garment factories.

It includes inspections of every factory and public disclosure of the resulting reports. The plan also calls for common safety standards, the election of worker committees at each factory, and a system by which workers could report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation.

"Alliance members have committed to provide tangible safety improvement for Bangladeshi garment workers," said Daniel Duty, vice president for global affairs at Target. "This five-year binding agreement is designed to significantly elevate fire and building safety in the Bangladesh garment factories."

The announcement by the retailers today in Washington comes after more than 1,200 Bangladeshi workers have died in recent months — in a building collapse at one factory and in a fire at another.

Target has not been connected to either factory.