Child labour and supply chain: Profitability or (mis)management

Article


Zutshi, Ambika, Creed, Andrew and Sohal, Amrik. 2009. "Child labour and supply chain: Profitability or (mis)management." European Business Review (Bingley). 21 (1), pp. 42-63. https://doi.org/10.1108/09555340910925175
Article Title

Child labour and supply chain: Profitability or (mis)management

ERA Journal ID19159
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsZutshi, Ambika, Creed, Andrew and Sohal, Amrik
Journal TitleEuropean Business Review (Bingley)
Journal Citation21 (1), pp. 42-63
Number of Pages22
Year2009
PublisherEmerald
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0953-1432
0955-534X
1758-7107
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/09555340910925175
Web Address (URL)https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/09555340910925175/full/html
Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a realistic assessment, with an historical perspective, of the current practises and progress made by organisations towards elimination of child labour in global supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach
Literature review in the area of use of child labour within the global supply chain was combined with additional information obtained from the company searches of the GRI database, company ranking tables, and other sources.

Findings
Child labour is one of a number of areas of concern in global supply chains. Continued exploitation of child labour indicates an imbalanced state and consequently forces can be unleashed through standardization, collaboration and communication amongst all stakeholders to ensure protection of the vulnerable. This paper is part of the broader analysis informing incremental changes to supply chain management to preserve the rights and welfare of children in the present and future generations.

Research/limitations/implications
The analysis is based on secondary data sources and further research is thus needed to verify the individual weightings of the criteria used in the primary ranking of the companies.

Practical implications
The findings provide encouragement for policy and decision makers to implement incremental changes to global supply chains in order to protect the rights and welfare of children, according to the standards of Social Accountability (SA) 8000, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and other world trade stakeholders.

Originality/value
This paper questions the view that child labour incidences have diminished proportional to economic development. A swinging fulcrum with hidden traps for developed and developing nations in light of cross border transactions through supply chains has been proposed.

KeywordsCorporate social responsibility; Supply chain management; Children (age groups); Labour utilization; Globalization
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020350909. Supply chains
359999. Other commerce, management, tourism and services not elsewhere classified
Public NotesFiles associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.
Byline AffiliationsDeakin University
Monash University
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