A number of major clothing retailers in Europe and the US have signed an agreement to improve conditions and ensure building safety for workers in Bangladesh in the wake of a fatal building collapse. More than 1,100 people died when the Rana Plaza building collapsed on the outskirts of the capital. The companies which have joined the agreement include the British chain Marks and Spencer, Sweden's Hennes & Mauritz and Zara's parent company Inditex, which is based in Spain. The deal is due to be formally signed in the coming days, committing retailers to paying for factory repairs and ensuring an efficient system for building and fire safety inspection. The pact will be overseen by the International Labour Organisation, and includes regular safety checks and the use of single occupancy factories.Bangladesh is the world's second-largest apparel maker and the 20 billion dollar industry accounted for up to 80 per cent of annual exports last year. It has around 4,500 clothing factories, churning out products for Western fashion labels which sell the clothing at many times the cost price. Hundreds of factories have been forced to shut indefinitely after worker unrest sparked by the accident.