University of Twente Student Theses
Assessing NGO influence on unethical labour conditions : The effect and changes of NGO strategies, lobbying and collaboration, to improve labour conditions in the fast fashion industry in Bangladesh and Myanmar
Endeman, T. (2019) Assessing NGO influence on unethical labour conditions : The effect and changes of NGO strategies, lobbying and collaboration, to improve labour conditions in the fast fashion industry in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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| Abstract: | The fast fashion industry is driven by a high demand of Western consumers. The labour conditions in the fast fashion industry are unethical, garment workers are dealing with low wages, long working hours, dangers and unhealthy conditions. NGOs can try to improve these conditions by means of their strategies. The central question in this research is: to what extent have the strategies of NGOs to improve the labour conditions in the fast fashion industry changed under the social and political circumstances of two sudden shocks in Bangladesh and Myanmar, since 2013? The studied strategies are collaboration and inside and outside lobbying. Qualitative research has been conducted, through a document analysis of data from three NGOs. The results are presented through case studies, on the situation in Bangladesh before and after the Rana Plaza collapse of 2013, and on the situation in Myanmar before and after the US economic sanctions were lifted in 2016. In Bangladesh the Accord on Fire and Building Safety was established after the Rana Plaza collapse, which led to more collaboration between NGOs and other organizations. In Myanmar, the lift of US economic sanctions led to more brands sourcing from garment factories located in Myanmar. In both countries NGOs were active before the two sudden shocks to improve the labour conditions. The NGOs combine different strategies, or use the strategies that are best suited to their environmental, political or social influences, which can change over a period of time, as well as their strategies. Therefore, this study shows that the strategies of NGOs to improve labour conditions in the fast fashion industry did not change to a great extent under the social and political circumstances of the two sudden shocks in Bangladesh and Myanmar. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 70 social sciences in general |
| Programme: | European Studies MSc (69303) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/80217 |
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