Rana Plaza and the (in)effectiveness of CSR compliance and auditing pressures

What is it about?

Following the Rana Plaza accident in April 2013, efforts have been placed on drawing up new and improving existing standards regarding safety and labour. In this study we find that compliance and auditing pressures resulted in some degree of upgrading in the garment supply chain. However, these pressures also led to the prioritisation and implementation of measureable standards over what worker actually need. Certain initiatives have effectively destroyed previously existing social value and the technological upgrading increased work pressures. The main learning from the study for lead firms in global value chains is not to ignore the grass-roots social value initiatives of their suppliers.

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Why is it important?

In efforts to clean up production value chains, large multinationals are faced with the dilemma of enforcing measureable standards. Some of these are actually triggering a deterioration of previously existing practices and values for those employed in the productive process.

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