VOA标准英语2013--Most US Retailers Choose Not to Sign Bangladesh Factory Accord

 

Most US Retailers³ Choose Not to Sign Bangladesh Factory Accord

The factory fell just days after it was considered unsafe, but employees were told to come to work anyway.  

U.S. Congressman⁴ George Miller⁵, a long-time advocate for garment workers’ rights, recently visited the site.  He also put blame on the retail¹ industry, which he says pits one factory against another to drive the prices of apparel to its lowest level.

“So the factory owners are under stress all the time about whether they're going to get a new contract.  That doesn't leave a lot of room for improvements in working conditions in factories. That really hampers⁶ the ability of the factory owners in upgrading their factories," said Miller.

The Rana Plaza⁷ tragedy has created a call for action.  This includes the Accord on Fire and Safety in Bangladesh that legally binds⁸ apparel retailers to having independent building and fire safety inspections⁹ in factories.

Congressman Miller is urging U.S. retail firms to sign the pact¹⁰, but so far, only a few have.   However, some 40 European companies have signed it, and Congressman Miller explains one reason why.

“Many of the American firms use middle men.  Anytime something bad happens in a factory they say that was unauthorized, where Europeans, in many instances, put people in the factories to monitor what's taking place," he said.

U.S. firms are concerned about their legal liability, says global trade expert Kimberly Elliott.

“They may be more concerned than the European firms about actually being sued.  They don't want to have it be that it's their responsibility to pay for health and safety for factories that they don't own," said Elliott.

Instead, these clothing firms, including the giant Walmart company and fashion retailer² the Gap, want to continue self-regulation.   Both Walmart and the Gap told VOA they were not available for TV interviews.  But in a statement, a Gap spokesperson said while the company shares the goals of the accord, it also believes the Bangladeshi government and local industry and worker representatives need to be included.  

Elliott says the garment factory collapse¹¹ and a massive fire at another clothing factory in Bangladesh 5 months earlier show that self-regulation isn't working.

“We're still having big problems in the garment sector¹².  There have been improvements.  Some of the programs are better than others, but it's not a solution. I think it's more about protecting the brand than improving conditions," she said.

A U.S. State Department official says American retail companies need to make their own decisons as to whether they will sign the accord

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

3 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

4 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

5 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

6 hampers   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Prejudice sometimes hampers a person from doing the right thing. 有时候，偏见会妨碍人正确行事。
• This behavior is the opposite of modeless feedback, and it hampers flow. 这个行为有悖于非模态的反馈，它阻碍了流。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

7 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

8 binds   

v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕

参考例句：

• Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

11 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

12 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。