Kmart Ceased Production at Bangladesh Factory After Cracks Found

Kmart, the Australian discount department-store unit of Wesfarmers Ltd., said it ceased production earlier this month at a Bangladesh clothing factory and evacuated workers after the plant was designated unsafe.

Employees of the Ratul Fabrics Ltd. factory in Dhaka were asked to leave the premises within 70 minutes of the company being informed of the results of an inspection by industrial police, Tracie Walker, general manager of Kmart Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, said in an e-mail today.