Everything started on the morning of 24 April 2013. Workers at the eight-story Rana Plaza garment building, in Bangladesh’s Dhaka District, had been fearful for their safety even before it happened. Cracks appeared on the walls up to two days before the event. And then, in the span of 90 seconds, the Rana Plaza building collapsed, taking with it 1,134 lives. In that moment, the site transformed into a symbol and a rallying cry for occupational safety and health standards.
After the disaster, the global fight for labour rights, decent working conditions, and environmental protection in supply chains was re-energized. The international community came together to start a global conversation about which global stakeholders are responsible for protecting workers, and how. Ultimately, Rana Plaza left a mark on history – a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing human lives and dignity in the pursuit of profit and economic growth.