Proof of how reliant Bangladesh is on the garment industry: the country begged the European Union not to institute "harsh trade conditions" after a factory building collapse that killed over 500 people. It was the worst industrial accident in Bangladesh's history. The top civil servant in Bangladesh's Commerce Ministry worries that if sanctions are imposed "millions of workers"—who earn as little as $38 per month—"will lose their jobs." The European Union, which gives preferential access to Bangladeshi garments, hopes to press authorities to improve safety standards in response to the horrific accident.
