Corporate Social Level
The Garment industry for some corporations can threaten their business survival especially if the media, government or social community find out if those businesses are keeping this discreet. But too often corporations take advantage of the garment industry to try and manufacture their product or service at a lower price as in different countries such as Indonesia and Bangladesh their cultures accept this industry such as child labour, sweatshops and slavery. I personally believe that this is extremely unethical for a corporation to do as they are only focused on a narrow view of only profit maximization instead a of a broader view and that this not only impacts the business but also at a Corporate Social level such as the businesses customers, social community and the media.
This can ultimately change the businesses operations process as explained by (Grebert and Farrelly 2005) where Nike was exposed to the world about how they use child sweatshops to manufacture their shoes with under aged children and bad working conditions and hours which forced Nike to go full damage control and had to ‘admit’ their own mistake to the public eye while at the same time facing heavy criticism from the media and its customers. They also discuss about how other similar corporations can minimise their public reputation from becoming negative by taking the Duty of care approach of treating all of their under aged and overworked employees fairly with promotions or flexible work hours while at the same time promoting safety and human welfare in the business.
I believe that the garment industry can kill people with their overworked hours and minimal pay which is supported by (Tingting and Yanzhen 2012) where the garment industry has claimed the lives of more than two hundred lives with 10% of them coming from Apples manufacturer Foxconn as the work hours are long with minimal wages and very dangerous working conditions which has led to twenty two employees jumping off the top of the building which has resulted in the company installing safety nets around the perimeter.
The garment industry in my opinion also can change a countries culture as the country and its government may possibly agree with what businesses are doing as it stimulates that countries economy with providing their people with work and pay as supported by (Paul 2014) who partially agrees with the garment industry as while it is very unethical it can help the countries in poverty rise and help the social community there to buy their essential needs such as food, water and shelter.
This is furthermore why I believe that the garment industry is unethical and has a various amount of issues at a corporate social level as it can ruin a business reputation and image, can claim the lives of innocent people and possibly change a country’s work culture as explained by various amount of journal authors who have given some examples of corporations that have suffered these consequences and issues but it can also help grow a country in poverty.
References:
Grebert, C & Farrelly, F 2005, ‘Interview with Carl Grebert, Brand Director Nike Asia Pacific’ International Journal of sports marketing and sponsorship, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 4-7
Tingting, C & Yanzhen, H 2012, ‘The ethics if employment relations in China: a meta-analysis’, China Management studies, vol. 6, no.2, pp. 341-349
Paul, C 2014, ‘Child labour and slavery in modern society’, emerald group publishing limited, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 13-55