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Voluntary Sustainability Standards: A Squandered Opportunity to Improve Workers' Wages

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  • Elizabeth A. Bennett

Abstract

The sustainable development agenda has long been linked with social justice, income equality, and workers' rights. This article argues that voluntary sustainability standards†setting organizations (VSSSOs) can contribute to these goals by requiring employers to pay living wages and actively support collective bargaining. Examining the content of 25 voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) set by 16 systematically selected VSSSOs, this study finds that only 32% of VSS mandate a living wage, and only 16% rigorously support collective bargaining. It argues that supporting national minimum wages is helpful but not sufficient, examines sources of downward pressure on VSS, identifies potential explanations for variation among standards, and briefly describes a new initiative promoting living wage standards. While VSS are not a silver bullet for sustainable development or wage equity, VSSSOs are overlooking a significant opportunity to be a transformative part of a broader solution. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth A. Bennett, 2018. "Voluntary Sustainability Standards: A Squandered Opportunity to Improve Workers' Wages," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(1), pages 65-82, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:26:y:2018:i:1:p:65-82
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.1691
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    Cited by:

    1. Qamar Farooq & Jie Hao & Xuan Liu & Di Xiao & Yunhong Hao, 2020. "Social and environmental development: Fresh concepts and soft measures towards sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(6), pages 1796-1803, November.
    2. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2020. "How enhancing gender inclusion affects inequality: Thresholds of complementary policies for sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(1), pages 132-142, January.
    3. Señoret, Andrés & Ramirez, Maria Inés & Rehner, Johannes, 2022. "Employment and sustainability: The relation between precarious work and spatial inequality in the neoliberal city," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    4. Traldi, Rebecca & Silva, Julie A. & Potapov, Peter & Tyukavina, Alexandra & Epprecht, Michael & Gore, Meredith L. & Phompila, Chittana, 2023. "Cultivating inequality? Regional rubber dynamics and implications for voluntary sustainability programs in Lao PDR," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    5. Imbrogiano, Jean-Pierre & Steiner, Bodo & Mori Junior, Renzo & Sturman, Kathryn, 2023. "What enables metals ‘being’ ‘responsible’? An exploratory study on the enabling of organizational identity claims through a new sustainability standard," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    6. Perosa, Bruno Benzaquen & Saes, Maria Sylvia Macchione & Marcelino de Jesus, Clesio, 2024. "Between law and voluntary sustainability standards: a case study of the labor conditions in Brazilian coffee production," Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural (RESR), Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural, vol. 62(3), January.

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