April 24th marks the first anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 garment workers and injured over 2,500 more. Since May of 2013, Boston Common has been one of the lead investors in an Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility-coordinated investor coalition engaging apparel companies sourcing from Bangladesh. Boston Common and others have signed a statement advocating for systemic changes necessary to ensure worker safety from fire or building collapses.
The statement calls on companies to give to the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund for those injured and those who lost family members in the collapse. It also outlines what still needs to be done to create a garment sector in Bangladesh that minimizes risk to workers and companies. The statement has been signed by over 134 institutional investors with a total of $4.1 trillion in assets under management.
For inquiries, please contact Lauren Compere, Managing Director, at lcompere@bostoncommonasset.com or (617) 960-3912.
About Boston Common Asset Management
Boston Common Asset Management specializes in sustainable and responsible global equity strategies. It seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in diversified portfolios of high quality stocks. Through rigorous analysis of financial, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors we identify innovative, attractively valued companies for investment. On behalf of its shareholders, Boston Common urges portfolio companies to improve transparency, accountability, and manage for the long term. The firm manages US, International and Global portfolios for institutions and individuals through separate accounts, commingled and mutual funds.