To the Editor:

Re “Buying Overseas Clothing, U.S. Flouts Its Own Advice” (front page, Dec. 23):

The tragedies in Bangladesh — a killer fire in November 2012 and a terrible building collapse in April this year — have put conditions in the global garment industry in the spotlight. Your report on United States government procurement practices shows that the federal government is no better than the retail giants — they all depend on ineffective and outmoded means of enforcing labor and safety standards.

There is another way, as pioneered in the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. It is legally binding on signatories and includes the workers’ voice in safety arrangements. Over a hundred retailers and brands have joined. The United States government could require procurement from companies that have signed the accord, but a requirement to do so was excluded from the recently passed defense authorization act.

The principles for procurement should be supply chain transparency; adoption and enforcement of labor standards in procurement and licensing; and ensuring these standards along the supply chain of retail stores on our military bases.

In addition, federal procurement should address the root causes of labor violations through fair pricing and related responsible purchasing practices. Unless things change, our tax dollars are supporting dangerous sweatshop conditions.