Multi-stakeholder initiatives in Bangladesh after Rana Plaza: Global norms and workers' perspectives

Empirical study

Other

Published 2019 by LSE. Authored by Kabeer, N, Haq, L and Sulaiman, M.

Show related research focus

Research Focus

Sustainability Approaches:

Specific global or regional implementation norms for responsible supply chains

Sustainability Tools:

Accord & Alliance

Sustainability Issues:

Wages and workers' rights

Outcomes of Interest:

Occupational health and safety

Workers voice and representation

Specific Themes:

Workers

Sectors:

Textiles/Garment

Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

Region/Country:

Geographies:

Asia

Countries:

Bangladesh

Summary

The collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh in April, 2013 resulting in the death and injury of more than 2000 workers from the country's export garment industry was one of the worst industrial disasters in recorded history. The tragedy galvanized a range of stakeholders to take action to prevent future disasters. Prominent in these efforts were two multi-stakeholder agreements which brought together lead buyers, trade unions and NGOs in a concerted effort to improve health and safety conditions in the industry. These initiatives represent a move away from the buyer-driven compliance-based model that continues to dominate CSR to what is being described as a 'cooperation-based' model which brings together multiple stakeholders who affect, and are affected, by the business operations of lead MNCs in global value chains. This paper is concerned with the experiences and perceptions of workers with regard to these new initiatives. It examines competing interpretations of stakeholder analysis within the CSR literature and uses these to frame its key research question: has the shift from compliance to co-operation as the basis of CSR a promising way forward or merely a shift in rhetoric? We use a survey of garment workers to explore the extent to which these initiatives have brought about improvements in wages and working conditions in the garment industry, where progress has been slowest and why.

Multi-stakeholder initiatives in Bangladesh after Rana Plaza: Global norms and workers' perspectives

Empirical study

Other

Published 2019 by LSE. Authored by Kabeer, N, Haq, L and Sulaiman, M.

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Multi-stakeholder initiatives in Bangladesh after Rana Plaza: Global norms and workers' perspectives

Research Focus

Region/Country:

Summary

Research detail

Multi-stakeholder initiatives in Bangladesh after Rana Plaza: Global norms and workers' perspectives

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