Transforming the Garment Industry in Bangladesh: Sharing Responsibility

Abstract

This chapter introduces the concept of Shared Responsibility as a paradigmatically new approach to the immense systemic challenges and ethical shortcomings of large parts of the garment industry in Bangladesh. The chapter starts with an in-depth problem analysis of the situation in Bangladesh after the collapse of Rana Plaza. Industry and Multi-stakeholder Initiatives such as the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety or the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety are being critically assessed and their shortcomings are being identified. Building on this critique the authors suggest an approach of transformative change including the assessment of total cost of remediation as well as collaboration with a greater pool of stakeholders and local actors. The authors stress the crucial role of the Bangladesh government and illustrate their approach based on existing applications of Shared Responsibility. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the transferability of the new approach to other industrial contexts with similar human rights deficiencies as in the textile sector.