Wal-Mart Finds Safety Issues at Bangladesh Factories

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it has found safety problems at some of the factories in Bangladesh with which it does business, and that most of those factories have since made improvements.

The U.S. retail group tested the safety of more than 200 factories, a company spokesman said in an email late on Sunday.

“Of these, 32 had failures in their initial inspections, but all but two have since addressed those issues.”

Walmart has posted on its website the inspection reports of 75 factories, and will post the remainder as they are completed, the spokesman said.

Of the 75 factories, two failed safety inspections because remediation was not possible, the spokesman said. A third factory ceased producing goods for Wal-Mart because it failed the initial inspection; the owners are building a new factory, the spokesman said.

A fourth factory has closed down because of labor unrest unrelated to Wal-Mart’s safety inspection, the spokesman said.

Companies are pushing for improved safety in Bangladesh after 1,129 workers were killed in the collapse of a garment plant in April, and another 112 people perished in a factory fire in November.

(Reporting by Nicola Leske; Editing by Christopher Cushing)