The UK government has called for retailers to introduce more transparency into their supply chains and address their sourcing procedures.

Department for International Development (DFID) minister Alan Duncan recently made the request during a debate in Westminster on the working conditions in the garment industry, Supply Management reports.

"At the heart of the issue is the idea that companies must take responsibility for all the workers in their supply chain," said Mr Duncan.

He was speaking after the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which led to over a thousand fatalities and many more injuries.

The minister added that British companies could be "a force for good" in the world by making the necessary improvements.

According to the minister, the garment industry is on the whole having a positive impact, helping to empower women. Growth in the sector, rather than boycotting or abandonment, is therefore better for everyone.