Respect for Workers in Global Supply Chains: Advancing the Debate Over Sweatshops

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis G. Arnold ◽  
Norman E. Bowie
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Global Supply Chains ◽  
Living Wage ◽  
Respect For Persons ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Inaccurate Reading

ABSTRACT:In “Sweatshops and Respect for Persons” we argued on Kantian grounds that managers of multinational enterprises (MNEs) have the following duties: to adhere to local labor laws, to refrain from coercion, to meet minimum health and safety standards, and to pay workers a living wage. In their commentary on our paper Sollars and Englander challenge some of our conclusions. We argue here that several of their criticisms are based on an inaccurate reading of our paper, and that none of the remaining criticisms successfully challenge our main arguments. By highlighting the shortcomings of their arguments we hope to advance discussion of the ethical treatment of workers in global supply chains.

Sweatshops and Respect for Persons

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis G. Arnold ◽  
Norman E. Bowie
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Living Wage ◽  
Respect For Persons ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Manufacturing Facilities

Abstract:This article applies the Kantian doctrine of respect for persons to the problem of sweatshops. We argue that multinational enterprises are properly regarded as responsible for the practices of their subcontractors and suppliers. We then argue that multinational enterprises have the following duties in their off-shore manufacturing facilities: to ensure that local labor laws are followed; to refrain from coercion; to meet minimum safety standards; and to provide a living wage for employees. Finally, we consider and reply to the objection that improving health and safety conditions and providing a living wage will cause greater harm than good.

Socially responsible global supply chains

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Hemphill ◽  
Keith J. Kelley
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Global Supply Chain ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Global Supply Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Building Safety ◽  
Rights Issue ◽  
Rights Issues

Purpose This paper aims to address the viability of two recent initiatives proposed to address the important human rights issue of employee and building safety among manufacturers in the global supply chain: the recently proposed “Shared Responsibility Paradigm” now being considered by concerned stakeholders as a new approach to understanding human rights issues across global supply chains and the proposed International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 45001 comprehensive framework for management systems addressing occupational health and safety. Design/methodology/approach First, the paper establishes a theoretical foundation for these two initiatives as practical and implementable solutions for this human rights issue and includes a section addressing the results of recent academic research on social responsibility in global supply chains. The paper then provides a detailed description of the shared responsibility paradigm and the ISO 45001 health and safety standard, respectively, followed by a discussion of their viability, policy implications and directions for future research. Findings Recent developments pertaining to the implementation of the ISO 45001 standard and the unveiling of the World Economic Forum’s shared responsibility model offer aspirational hope for a multi-stakeholder solution to successfully addressing serious human rights issues related to employee safety in Bangladesh and other least developed countries. Originality/value This paper offers an early viability assessment of the two recent initiatives proposed to address the important human rights issue of employee and building safety among manufacturers in the global supply chain: the “Shared Responsibility Paradigm” and the proposed ISO 45001 standard for worker health and safety.

Wages in Global Supply Chains

2021 ◽  
pp. 112-147
Author(s):  
Jinsun Bae
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Codes Of Conduct ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Global Supply Chains ◽  
Living Wage ◽  
Hourly Wage ◽  
Private Regulation ◽  
Labor Market Conditions ◽  
Wage Rates

This chapter assesses progress on wages in global supply chains, using AUDCO data. The data include hourly wage rates, the gap between actual wages and minimum wages, the gap between actual wages and take-home pay, and finally the gap between these paid wages and a number of different living wage estimates drawn from 14,315 reliable audits done during the period 2011–2017 in ten countries and seven industries. These data show that wages in all countries have increased and are above the minimum wage (with a few exceptions in a small number of audits). Of course, it is difficult to credit private regulation programs with these increases, given the numerous other influences on wage levels — not the least being local labor market conditions as well as prices paid to suppliers for their product. But the fact that wages paid are above the minimum in most countries is at least consistent with code of conduct commitments. The evidence also shows that wages have been increasing every year — some codes require annual year-on-year increases. Moreover, it demonstrates that wage levels are nowhere near the living wage required by many codes of conduct. The gaps are large, and wages would need to increase considerably to reach the living wage commitments made by global firms in different countries and industries.

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