Oxfam warns local labels over Bangladesh Clothes lie in the rubble of a collapsed Bangladeshi garment factory. Oxfam claim it is just a matter of time before an Australian label is found there. It is only a matter of time before the label of an Australian clothing brand is found in the rubble of a collapsed Bangladeshi garment factory building, says Oxfam Australia. Enticed by cheaper costs and healthier profit margins, a growing number of Australian companies are having clothes made in Bangladesh, including Target, Big W and K-Mart, as well as fashion chain Cotton On. "They are seeking the absolute lowest price from supplier factories and they'll find that in Bangladesh," said Daisy Gardener, Oxfam's labour rights advocacy co-ordinator. Their demands put pressure on factories to cut costs and this results in unsafe workplaces and low wages. The death toll from Wednesday's building collapse in Dhaka has passed 300. Labour activists have pinned much of the responsibility on Western retail companies, saying brands connected to the tragedy included Spain's Mango, Britain's Primark and Italy's Benetton. Upon hearing the news, Woolworths, owner of the Big W chain, moved to establish whether there were any links between them and the factory building. There was no connection. "Big W only works with a small number of respected clothing suppliers in Bangladesh, with whom we have a direct relationship and oversight of their operations," said a spokesman. He said the company "insisted" suppliers abide by ethical sourcing policy. Ms Gardener said there was limited research on the growing percentage of clothing made in Bangladesh sold in local stores because of Australian companies' reluctance to be transparent about their supply chains. "There is not one local company who has released the crucial information of their suppliers' list publicly," she said. Nike, Adidas, Levi, they have all been transparent. In this regard, Australia is falling behind. [Tell] the companies you want decent conditions and good wages for the workers. They care about what customers think. Michele O'Neil from the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia said low ethical standards and unsafe workplaces affected the majority of the 4 million clothing factory workers across Bangladesh. The track record of many global brands is bad. They express sympathy and horror when they become aware of death, but they must support law reform and support enforceable changes to the industry," she said.