Bangladesh workers protest as building collapse death toll passes 400

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/01/bangladesh-workers-protest-may-day-building-collapse
<snip>
Thousands of workers have marched through central Dhaka, Bangladesh, to demand better safety at work and the death penalty for the owner of a garment factory building that collapsed last week in the country's worst industrial disaster

The May Day protests came as officials confirmed the death toll from the collapse of the Rana Plaza complex had risen above 400. More than 2,500 were injured.

Among the garment makers in the building were Phantom Apparels, Phantom Tac, Ether Tex, New Wave Style and New Wave Bottoms. Altogether, they produced several million shirts, trousers and other garments a year.

The New Wave companies, according to their website, make clothing for several major North American and European retailers. British retailer Primark has acknowledged it sold garments made in a factory in Rana Plaza and on Monday said it was providing emergency aid and would pay compensation to victims who worked for its supplier.

[sabrina 1]

1. 'Pay compensation'. How about not hiring factories that care nothing about safety standards

or pay slave wages in the first place? Shame on those who continue to support these dangerous, human rights abusers for profit. It's not as if they don't know, that after all, is why they take their business to these countries in the first place.

Paying compensation, there is no price that can pay for the lives lost.

And THIS country can fix this problem, at least as far as American Corporations are concerned by applying the same labor standards they are subject to here, no matter where they operate.

And we need to improve our own labor standards also.

[malaise]

2. Contrary to our views this is the new normal

Anything for profit - fuck the poor and the dispensable.

[sabrina 1]

3. Yes, and we are all to blame in a way. Looking at the faces of those poor people is heart-breaking.

But here, nothing will be done and we are a big part of the source of the problem. Sort of like addicts, we turn a blind eye to where all our 'goodies' are coming from.

[lapislzi]

4. Labor Day kick n/t

[freshwest]

5. Tears in my eyes for this mother... So much grief, all because of greed.

[malaise]

6. Too sad