How are UK "H&S laws AND enforcement" going to prevent fire in Karachi?

Totally agree

I have no knowledge of how Fire Safety is Governed in the region of the world but I suspect it may well concern us in the UK - it’s a garment factory and it’s a possibility that garments being manufactured are UK bound - Once again I have no knowledge of this particular factory. Many UK retailers source their product form this country so there maybe a question of Corporate Governance and indeed social responsibility - I would like to think that this morning that retailers sourcing their product in the region are making the necessary enquireies………………...

This incident might have been avoided - prevented is probably the wrong word - if we all had been prepared to buy goods at a higher price instead of low-cost goods manufactured so cheaply in overseas sweat shops. It's a problem of H&S if you want it to be, but H&S is not the solution. As the problems run much much deeper, so too are the solutions difficult to find. But however hard you look, the social, political, economic and other drivers of global trade will not be corrected by H&S legislation. It is naive to believe that it would.

It is only through WTO etc that efforts can be made. Unfortunately, as far as I am aware, there is no agreement that these countries are required to achieve "adequate" standards within an agreed timescale that can be internationally audited. Let us hope that the proposal for including in Global Reporting Standards that is now to include some Occupational Health and safety Criteria goes some way. I do not know about Pakistan, but have had first hand experience in India. There is an endemic problem with outdated legislation, inconsistent enforcement, and corruption resulting in the so called " unorganised sector" in which employees practically have no protection. Despite India having a formal national Occupational Health & Safety Policy, very little effort has been made to implement it! http://www.dgfasli.nic.in/npolicy/OSH-Policy.pdf I am very sure that if the textile factory was supplying goods for export, it would have been quickly identified in the media.

The cynic (or should be realist?) in me suggests the relevant distributors are more likely to be phoning round looking for alternative suppliers. It would seem that the Governments of the 'developed' World are more than happy to boycott on the basis of political regime or racial intolerance, but not safety standards. Our own Government are currently wooing China (is that some sort of risky pun I wonder) to invest in this Country. China has one of the worst worker safety records in the World. China is now wealthy. The basis for that wealth is the same as was the basis for ours in days of Empire- relentless exploitation.

Hiya Ron In general I cant argue with your comments as I know what goes on with some retailers - I'm not coming from the country safety records or compliance I'm making my points on company ethics - my current employer has strict controls in place.. How a particular country apply its laws is their business - beyond that its ethics. One problem retailers do have and I know this first hand - sites will be audited to meet the necessary standards and compliance - the auditor goes home and the work is subcontracted - of course strict penalties are put in place but you cant be there all the time can you. Please note - do not underestimate the buying public and there impact on ethics and where they spend their pound!! With regards suppliers if they are a good company who apply the full principles or risk management into their operation then good BC should have this covered anyhow I'm certainly not naive enough to think we (on here) can make a real difference and your points are valid and factual

In addition to the poverty and poor building & fire standards, let's not forget the cultural differences; I visited a large Chinese restaurant to carry out a FRA (after a fire service audit ended in a enforcement notice) . Despite knocking the door, staff that I could see in the basement (which had windows into a light well) would not open the door. It transpired that they were locked in by the owner. When he arrived, he simply couldn't see what the fuss was about. He argued that they would "escape" and go drinking if he left them in an unlocked building. I pointed out that 15 staff working in a commercial kitchen must have a way out in an emergency. He asked why and said he could get "plenty new staff" if the current staff died. He was not joking. I usually have a strict confidentiality code of conduct when customers let me into their businesses. But not this time as (after I was paid!!) I informed the local council and the Border Agency. This was in London, so God knows what happens in these so-called emerging countries, where the poor have to work to feed family left 1000s of miles away in the country.

I had the pleasure of visiting a UK based company base in Qatar. It didn't take me long to spot something rather odd. The Phillipino workforce had turned the store rooms at the back of the workshop into sleeping quarters and were wandering about in flip flops and yes the Management team who were British nationals were fully aware. It's not often a flip the lid!!!!

Ray I alway find you a voice of reason but to suggest this is in the past, is a bit blinkered! You need to take a look around some of the back street in our cities and you will still find such conditions. Messyshaw's experiences are by no means rare and as jobs become harder to find, more people have to endue these conditions.