Corporate social responsibility, decent work and global framework agreements: a textile industry case study

Authors

  • Caroline da Graça Jacques Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense
  • Maria João Nicolau dos Santos Universidade de Lisboa
  • Maria Soledad Etcheverry Orchard Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7984.2016v15n33p160

Abstract

The article discusses how the notion of decent work proposed by the International Labour

Organization (ILO) is present on corporate social responsibility programs since the development of global commodity chains. Based on Economic Sociology Theory, discusses the formation of the International Framework Agreements (IFA) involving the union leadership and enterprises to create decent work in the supply chains. The empirical focus was the multinational Inditex fast fashion retailier. Interviews have been made with social and economic actors in the production chain in Portugal and Brazil. In conclusion, it is emphasized that the new corporate social responsibility tools, such as IFAs, favor the guidelines of decent work. However, the survey revealed that if there are no changes in the management of productive fast fashion retalier chain, the IFA has little effectiveness in reducing sweatshops and precarious labour.

Author Biographies

Caroline da Graça Jacques, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense

Pós-doutoranda na modalidade CAPES-PNPD em Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico pela Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC). Doutora em Sociologia Política (UFSC). Professora Colaboradora do Programa de Pós Graduação em Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico (UNESC). 

Maria João Nicolau dos Santos, Universidade de Lisboa

Doutora em Sociologia Economica pelo Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão da Universidade de Lisboa (ISEG-UL). Professora da Universidade de Lisboa. 

Maria Soledad Etcheverry Orchard, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Doutora em Sociologia pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia e Antropologia (PPGSA), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) e Professora Associada da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC).

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Published

2016-11-21

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 33 (2016)

Section

Special Issue 1 - Sociology and sociologists in Latin America: research, teaching, and interdisciplinarity in contemporary context

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