Walmart Stores Inc. on Tuesday announced it would conduct in-depth safety inspections at all of its 279 factories in Bangladesh.
The US retail giant said it aims to complete all reviews of its 279 suppliers in Bangladesh within 6 months and will publicly release names and inspection information, including results, reports Reuters.
The company has immediately ordered factories that failed to meet its safety standards for suppliers to stop production at facilities, according to AFP.
Walmart said in a statement operations at “facilities where urgent safety issues are identified” would be halted while factory owners and government authorities will be notified of “the need to take action”.
“As a result, workers in these facilities can be assured of safer working conditions, and the entire market will be lifted to a new standard,” the statement said. Global inspections group Bureau Veritas was also hired by the company to conduct fire-safety training for all workers in its Bangladesh suppliers.
Walmart has yet to join the “Accord on Fire and Building Safety” agreed by a number of global retailers who buy goods in Bangladesh.
This comes in the wake of the tragic collapse of the eight-storey Rana Plaza that killed more than 1,100 people.
