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Canada Retail Council marks May Day by addressing working conditions in Bangladesh

The Retail Council of Canada is making changes to its international trade guidelines in the wake of a devastating factory complex collapse in Bangladesh, and the timing couldn't be any better back home.

News that the labour oversight board would address its relationship with international workforces spread on Wednesday, which just happens to be May Day, as it is known to those in the labour movement.

May Day, also frequently referred to as International Workers’ Day, is often used to celebrate the labour movement and demonstrations are often held to demand improved working conditions.

[ Related: Bangladesh May Day crowds demand worker safety ]

The Canadian Press reports that thousands of Bangladeshi workers held a massive May Day protest on Wednesday to demand safer working conditions and improved standards of living.

The collapse of an eight-storey building housing five manufacturing factories left more than 400 workers dead and thrust working conditions into the international spotlight. The country's garment industry is worth $20 billion a year.

[ More Brew: Canadians vow to boycott Joe Fresh after factory collapse ]

In light of the collapse, which involved a garment maker contracted by Canada's Joe Fresh, owned by Loblaws Inc., the Canadian Retail Council announced changes to its foreign trade agreements.

Those changes include updating trade guidelines for the industry and joining a North American coalition focused on addressing safety standards in the Bangladesh garment industry.

The Retail Council of Canada's statement does not acknowledge the coincidental timing of May Day, but one would suspect they are aware of it.