In El Salvador, workers at the Industrias Florenzi factory sewed Grey’s Anatomy scrubs for more than 15 years. At the start of the pandemic, the Salvadoran government ordered nonessential businesses to temporarily shut down operations and the Industrias Florenzi factory began laying off workers. In July 2020, Industrias Florenzi closed permanently. More than a year later, the workers are still waiting for the $1.3 million in unpaid wages and severance they’re owed under Salvadoran law.

Cambodian trade unions are calling on international brands to ensure that workers in the country’s garment, footwear, and leather industries are paid their full wages for the duration of the pandemic. Sudden changes in health measures and product orders resulted in wage theft for workers already living in precarious conditions.

The April 24, 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh killed 1,134 workers and injured approximately 2,500. The building housed five garment factories. Its collapse has been dubbed the worst industrial disaster in the history of the Bangladesh garment industry. However, this was no accident; workers knew the building was unsafe but had been forced to go to work to meet the order deadlines of international brands.

Today, apparel brands and labour unions announced agreement on a new International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, thereby preserving, extending, and expanding the model pioneered by the Bangladesh Accord for protecting worker safety.