Stopping the Exploitation of Workers: An Analysis of the Effective Application of Consumer or Socio-Political Pressure

Journal of Business Ethics · 2005 · Volume 59 · Issue 1

Abstract

Commodity chain analysis (Bair and Ramsay, 2003Multinational Companies and Global Human Resource Strategies) is used to explore where economic pressure (from consumers) or socio-political pressure (from governments and NGOs) can be applied to reduce worker exploitation. Six paths are illustrated with examples of successful and unsuccessful application of pressure. Three conclusions are reached :Economic pressure on companies and brand owners is more likely to lead to improved workplace conditions than socio-political pressure; Brand owners are more likely to implement improved workplace conditions than retailers; and Retailers who are under extreme consumer price pressure will resist improving workplace conditions.

Keywords

brand value, commodity chains, price pressure, successful boycotts, unsuccessful boycotts, worker exploitation

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