Global firms’ social responsibility activities now include human rights due to media coverage of abuse and human rights breaches in their value chains. Between 2007 and 2018, Inditex, Primark, H&M, Gap Inc., and Fast Retailing were embroiled in human rights issues at their supply factories. The study evaluates how these corporations handled media scrutiny to reestablish legitimacy and how well their codes of conduct address human rights issues. Codes of conduct acknowledge media-highlighted human rights impacts, but they don’t match companies’ actual practices, suggesting that they may be used to improve stakeholders’ perceptions rather than drive significant change.

Image courtesy of interviewee. January 9, 2024