Creating Good Working Conditions Throughout the Supply Chain: Locally and Globally

By: Jody Heymann

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: Regardless of its origin, any organization that is working across borders needs to answer a fundamental question about the nature of the work environment: If your company is from a high-income country with an operation in a low-income country, which aspects should be similar to the other local worksites and which should be similar to those in your company's headquarters? How should wages be structured, benefits be determined, and work conditions be regulated? Drawing on fifteen years of research, in this chapter the authors provide an in-depth analysis of the three crucial areas of the work environment your company needs to focus on to ensure product safety, maintenance of your corporate brand image, and employee motivation. While the benefits seem straightforward, there are challenges and complexities to instituting company policies globally. With rich examples from companies in places like China, Vietnam, and Cambodia, this chapter will help you understand how your company can meet these challenges- from selecting global suppliers to providing labor standards information to consumers. This chapter was originally published as Chapter 9 of "Profit at the Bottom of the Ladder: Creating Value by Investing in Your Workforce."