Bangladesh garment factories to go under scanner for increased safety standards

Almost 70 retailers have agreed to conduct inspections of garment factories in Bangladesh after a year-long review of labour practices and workplace safety in the country.

BBC reports that these factories will be inspected within the next nine months.

According to the report, the code requires the factories to meet minimum fire and building safety standards.

Funds will be made available for any safety upgrades needed at the units.

The legally-binding code was announced earlier this year after the collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh in April that killed more than 1,100 people.

It was the deadliest in a series of accidents that have resulted in global attention being focused on safety standards in Bangladesh's garments export industry.

Last month, US suspended trade privileges extended to Bangladesh over concerns about dangerous working conditions and labour rights.