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Global supply chains and social requirements: case studies of labour condition auditing in the People's Republic of China

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  • Ketty Kortelainen

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to (1) discuss the usability of labour condition auditing as a tool, (2) identify main differences between quality and environmental auditing and labour condition auditing and (3) define typical improvement areas in a high technology supply chain in the People's Republic of China (hereafter ‘China’). The increased interest in labour conditions of global supply chains has driven companies to integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) into supply chain management (SCM) practices. Companies face legal requirements as well as voluntary social requirements. This paper focuses on the empirical part of labour condition auditing at selected factories during 2003 and 2004. Findings from these audits include non‐conformances in health and safety, remuneration, working hours and disciplinary practices. Based on the experiences of the case studies, labour condition auditing is seen as a beneficial tool for inducing continuous improvement in supply chain management, but it requires a new set of skills from the auditors. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Ketty Kortelainen, 2008. "Global supply chains and social requirements: case studies of labour condition auditing in the People's Republic of China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(7), pages 431-443, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:17:y:2008:i:7:p:431-443
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Gale Raj-Reichert, 2016. "Exposing forced labour in Malaysian electronics: the role of a social auditor in labour governance within a global production network," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 052016, GDI, The University of Manchester.
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    7. Kudla, Nicole & Stölzle, Wolfgang, 2011. "Sustainability Supply Chain Management Research," Die Unternehmung - Swiss Journal of Business Research and Practice, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 65(3), pages 263-301.
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    11. Valentina Carbone & Valerie Moatti & Vincenzo Esposito Vinzi, 2012. "Mapping Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Supply Chains: an Exploratory Perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(7), pages 475-494, November.
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    13. Mohamed Basta & James Lapalme & Marc Paquet & Patrick Saint‐Louis & Tarek Abu Zwaida, 2018. "How are supply chains addressing their social responsibility dilemmas? Review of the last decade and a half," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 833-843, September.
    14. Anette von Ahsen, 2014. "The Integration of Quality, Environmental and Health and Safety Management by Car Manufacturers – a Long‐Term Empirical Study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(6), pages 395-416, September.
    15. Karen Maas & Sanne Rosendaal, 2016. "Sustainability Targets in Executive Remuneration: Targets, Time Frame, Country and Sector Specification," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(6), pages 390-401, September.
    16. Sartor, Marco & Orzes, Guido & Di Mauro, Carmela & Ebrahimpour, Maling & Nassimbeni, Guido, 2016. "The SA8000 social certification standard: Literature review and theory-based research agenda," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 164-181.
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    18. Jonas Gamso, 2018. "Trade-based adoption of voluntary environmental programs in the developing world: Racing to the top or stuck in the mud?," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 51(4), pages 515-543, December.
    19. Darian McBain & Ali Alsamawi, 2014. "Quantitative accounting for social economic indicators," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 38(3), pages 193-202, August.
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    22. Walter J.V. Vermeulen, 2015. "Self‐Governance for Sustainable Global Supply Chains: Can it Deliver the Impacts Needed?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 73-85, February.

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