Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Role of Brand and Retailer Purchasing Practices in Factory Non-Compliance with Codes of Conduct for Labor Standards

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Abstract

Among professionals involved in labor compliance at the factory level it is well-known that many of the problems they attempt to correct result from decisions made by corporate staff in buying, product development, sourcing, and other business functions of the buying companies. These decisions and behaviors are referred to collectively as "purchasing practices;" examples include large changes to order volume, delayed approvals during the development process, and pressure to reduce prices year after year. While there have been several nongovernmental organization (NGO) reports on the types of purchasing practices that are problematic to factories and their workers, the content of these publications has been overlooked as a base of knowledge for devising solutions. Furthermore, academic literature on the topic is sparse, and most studies have identified fragmented bits of relevant information while focusing on topics broader than purchasing practices. This purpose of this qualitative meta-interpretation study was to advance understanding of the purchasing practices that influence compliance with codes of conduct for labor standards.

How to Cite:

Dickson, M. A., (2017) “Role of Brand and Retailer Purchasing Practices in Factory Non-Compliance with Codes of Conduct for Labor Standards”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 74(1).