What Matters towards Sustainable Social Compliance? A Case Study on the Apparel Suppliers of Bangladesh

Sawlat Zaman

Chapter 12 in Socially Responsible Business Models for International Brands, 2026, pp 273-292 from World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Abstract: Attaining sustainable social compliance in the apparel sector comes with its own sets of challenges that require identifying the root causes of those challenges as a pre-condition to working out an effective solution. This study adopted an investigative approach to explore and analyse the role of key stakeholders in the apparel sector of Bangladesh and explores their influences on its social compliance regulations. The study used a content analysis of secondary data to identify and investigate the role played by the state (government), employers’ association, trade union, local and global NGOs/activists, ILO and government of the countries to export.Findings revealed some inherent weaknesses in employment relations that questioned attaining sustainable social compliance in this sector’s employment practices. In this labour-surplus country, the state played a rather weak and passive role in industry regulation. Besides, a strong employer’s association and a weak trade union role further worsen the situation. Some significant changes in law contributing to better workplace safety and workers’ rights that are part of social compliance took place only when some major industrial incidents happened, and the sector faced threats like trade sanctions or loose market entry from the governments of its major export market. Besides pressure from International NGOs, global and local labour activists also played a significant role here. The study concludes that there is a need to have a multi-level response to attain sustainable social compliance in such sectors, combining local and global sources of influence to make a positive difference.

Keywords: University Social Responsibility; Happy To Chat; Badges; Community Building; Diversity; Inclusion; University; International Students Disinformation; SCR Brand; Socially Conscious Responsible Brand; Greenwashing; False Advertising Algorithmic Control; Gig-Workers; Socially Responsible; Self-Determination Theory; Social Exchange Theory; Motivation; Responsible Investing; Socially Responsible Investing (SRI); ESG; Business Model; Business Model Innovation; Economic Benefits; Liminal Spaces; CSR; Productivity; Employee Well-Being; Innovation; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); ESG Management; Business Ecosystem; Sustainability; Social Capital; Organisational Behaviour (OB); Leadership; Strategic Leadership; Internal Compliance; Employee Behaviours; Management In Practice; Socially Responsible Business; Emerging Markets; Marketing Strategies; Integrated Marketing Communication; Social Impact Measurement; Sustainable Goals; Linear Economy; Circular Economy; Social Compliance; Regulation; Garment; Bangladesh; Global Influence; Cryptocurrency; Blockchain; Bitcoin; Tokens; Socially Responsible Business; Smart Contracts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L21 M14 Q0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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