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Australia's prime time news programme, Sixty Minutes, asks why Australian companies have been slow to join the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.



Watch the programme here



UNI Global Union and leading New Zealand affiliate First Union welcome Kmart’s decision to join the Accord.



The move by Kmart represents a u-turn as the Australian company had earlier said it would not be signing up to the Accord which now has support from more than 40 global brands in the wake of the Rana Plaza building collapse.



First Union General Secretary Robert Reid described Kmart’s decision as a welcome change of heart.



Reid said, “Retailers who are not part of the solution on improving the safety of Bangladesh workers are part of the problem.”



He added, “Kmart is probably New Zealand’s biggest importer of Bangladesh clothing. Our union has been working behind the scenes for the last three weeks to convince Kmart to reconsider their decision and join other companies like Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger to commit to improving safety for Bangladesh workers.”



First Union is a member of UNI and IndustriALL who are responsible for developing the Accord which continues to add new companies including Auchan and Puma.