Most of the workers in the collapsed Dhaka building containing four garment factories were women, many of whom had expressed concern about cracks in the building the day before, but had been ordered back to work because it "had been inspected and was safe" (Report, 25 April). Now many of those women are dead. But never mind, because we in the west can continue to rejoice in dirt-cheap garments. "Can't decide between the geometric or floral bikini? It doesn't matter, because at ￡3 a pop, it's easier to buy both," says a piece accompanying your report on Primark's "absolutely brilliant start to the year" (Primark's high street strategy lifts sales 24%, 24 April). Its items are "often worn just once". It's time for us shoppers to wake up and do some joined-up thinking.
Susan Tomes
London
‧ The factory collapse in Bangladesh will have pricked the conscience of many a business that relies on cheap labour in developing countries to keep down the costs of production. We hope the tragedy brings about a sharper focus on occupational health and safety, in which organisations recognise their moral duty to protect workers from harm no matter where they are in the supply chain.
Jane White
Institution of Occupational Safety & Health
‧ As a first step, we suggest that Britain's importers and retailers of clothes made in Bangladesh should set up a fund to help the victims of the factory collapse and their families, to which those of us who benefit from cheap clothes, ie most of us, can contribute.
David and Mary Moore
Somerton, Somerset
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