Ethical Apparel Industry

This essay will analyse the ethical dimensions which are present in the apparel industry in Bangladesh. The apparel industry in Bangladesh is a multibillion dollar industry which provides employment for its citizens while increasing its export earnings. Foreign firms have seized the opportunity to take advantage of cheap and abundant workforce and lower costs. However there have been many instances where companies have neglected the health and safety standards of its workers. This neglected caught up with many companies in which 1100 people lost there life when a building collapsed in Dhaka which produced garments for many international companies. After this incident, there have been calls to improve the standards of both the buildings and …show more content…
Exports are crucial to its economy as it provides the country the majority of its foreign exchange earnings. Economically, Bangladesh relies heavily on this industry to ensure stability within the country. The recent events haven’t been good for Bangladesh. International firms now see Bangladesh as a place which is unsafe to operate in doing so would likely to affect their brand and company image. Ethically , international firms have the right to move their operations to more reliable places around the world. There business comes first for international firms as they have to ensure all stakeholders are satisfied. Any conflicts between stakeholders over this issue can be detrimental for its future operations. However, if firms decided to cease operations in Bangladesh the effects would be devastating. The apparel industry is a major source of employment to the people of Bangladesh. The industry provides them employment and an income to ensure they and their family don’t fall into the poverty which surrounds them. I find it hard to find a rational balance in this situation as both parties would be significantly affected but Bangladesh more so as it’s beneficial to them as a nation to help them develop into a stronger and completive …show more content…
Many have been able to become independent and make their own decisions in life. However in the western world many are critical of the way workers are being treated by its employers. Of course these actions are inappropriate and highly condemned but we have to realise that Bangladesh have different ethical traditions compared to other countries. It is hard to impose ones traditions on another country as the context of situation varies as that culture of that country is heavily ingrained it’s impossible to