Bangladesh’s shoddy factories

The devastating collapse of a factory complex in Bangladesh has raised questions about business ethics in the West. Are the complaints fair? James McKeigue investigates.

What happened?

Last month a collapse in a Bangladeshi factory complex, Rana Plaza, killed more than 700 people working for various textile garment firms there. It is the most deadly non-war related structural failure in modern times. The factories made goods for several Western brands, including British chain Primark, causing campaigners to call for tougher regulations on manufacturing conditions for goods sold in Britain.

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James McKeigue

James graduated from Keele University with a BA (Hons) in English literature and history, and has a certificate in journalism from the NCTJ. James has worked as a freelance journalist in various Latin American countries.He also had a spell at ITV, as welll as wring for Television Business International and covering the European equity markets for the Forbes.com London bureau. James has travelled extensively in emerging markets, reporting for international energy magazines such as Oil and Gas Investor, and institutional publications such as the Commonwealth Business Environment Report. He is currently the managing editor of LatAm INVESTOR, the UK's only Latin American finance magazine.