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The FairWear Campaign: An Ethical Network in the Australian Garment Industry

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Abstract

In many parts of the world, homework is a form of labour characterised by precariousness, lack of regulation, and invisibility and lack of protection of the workers who are often amongst the world’s poorest and most exploited. Homework is spreading, due to firm practices such as outsourcing. The analysis and understanding of complex corporate networks may assist with the identification and protection of those most at risk within the supply chain network. It can also expose some of the key ethical issues and dilemmas of supply chain management and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Based on a case-study of the Australian FairWear Campaign (FWC), this article identifies an ethical network that aims to increase corporate accountability (CA) via greater transparency in corporate supply chains and improve work conditions for homeworkers and increase their recognition in the supply chain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3083, Australia

    Rosaria Burchielli & Kylie Coventry

  2. School of Management & Information Systems, Victoria University, Melbourne, 3011, Australia

    Annie Delaney

  3. Homeworkers Worldwide UK, Office 20, 30-38 Dock Street, Leeds, LS10 1JF, U.K.

    Jane Tate

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  1. Rosaria Burchielli
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  2. Annie Delaney
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  3. Jane Tate
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  4. Kylie Coventry
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Correspondence to Rosaria Burchielli.

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Burchielli, R., Delaney, A., Tate, J. et al. The FairWear Campaign: An Ethical Network in the Australian Garment Industry. J Bus Ethics 90 (Suppl 4), 575–588 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0593-z

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