Oct 20, 2014 12:16 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Cornell University in New York announced last week that it is severing business ties with JanSport, a manufacturer of backpacks and collegiate apparel, over concerns about the safety of workers in Bangladesh, Inside Higher Ed reported.

The company was licensed by Cornell University and owned by VF Corporation. In May, University President Skorton asked VF Corporation to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh by Sept. 30, or face Cornell's termination of JanSport's license.

"The sheer size of VF's presence and influence in Bangladesh behooves the company to support all initiatives designed to improve worker and factory safety in that country," Skorton said in a statement. "Although VF and JanSport are separate business entities, VF's practices regarding labor compliance and practices govern all production globally and are applied to all VF subsidiaries."

Skorton said he hopes VF Corporation will take a leadership position on this issue of global importance and indicated that Cornell University would be happy to reestablish its business relationship with JanSport should VF decide to sign the Accord in the future.

A spokesman for VF told Inside Higher Ed that the company is working to promote safe working conditions in Bangladesh. It is collaborating with another group, Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, to improve worker safety.

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