Primark is to offer a long-term compensation package for workers at the devastated Rana Plaza in Bangladesh and their families.

1,132 people died six months ago when the factory building collapsed.

Workers at Rana Plaza were employed by sub-contractors working for 27 western firms, including Primark.

The discount high street store has already given short term compensation to those affected by the disaster but the company says the move today will take care of the needs of some 550 workers' families in a more long-term way.

Most of the other western firms have yet to offer compensation to the 3,000 affected workers. Primark has guaranteed to pay all of the workers three months salary until that happens.

The firm says the long-term compensation scheme has been devised with assistance from external experts, and involves medical and vulnerability assessments.

A spokesman said "This work now enables (Primark) to be confident that it can start to pay compensation early in 2014. Primark will make the framework available to other retailers who sourced from Rana Plaza to facilitate their compensation plans"

The company is also calling on other brands sourcing from Rana Plaza to contribute "a fair share" of this aid.

Penny's - operated by Primark - has 38 stores in Ireland, as well as outlets in Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal and Germany.