Skip to main content
Mobile
  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations
HS Talks HS Talks
Subjects  
Search
  • Notifications
    Notifications

    No current notifications.

  • User
    Welcome Guest
    You have Limited Access The Business & Management Collection
    Login
    Get Assistance
    Login
    Forgot your password?
    Login via your organisation
    Login via Organisation
    Get Assistance
Finance, Accounting & Economics
Global Business Management
Management, Leadership & Organisation
Marketing & Sales
Strategy
Technology & Operations
Practice paper

How to operate a robust sourcing programme to manage human rights risks, and why you should do it

Rachel Wilshaw and Beck Wallace
Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, 2 (2), 134-146 (2019)
https://doi.org/10.69554/FYSV9963

Abstract

This paper focuses on the context in which labour rights violations are systemic in the global supply chains of food retailers. It outlines what the problems are, based on Oxfam’s experience and recent research. It discusses growing inequalities and highlights evidence that farmers and workers in supply chains that produce the food we eat are often unable to put food on the table for their own families. Women predominate in jobs that are more precarious, lower paid and lack effective representation. The paper outlines reasons for companies to act, highlighting the shortcomings of traditional compliance and audit approaches adequately to identify and mitigate risks. It explains why and how investors are scrutinising companies’ management of risks and opportunities associated with their workforce, including in the supply chain. And it alerts readers to a ratcheting up of legislation putting a duty on companies to take their responsibility to respect human rights in their operations and supply chain more seriously. Increasing awareness of social and human rights risks, opportunities and incentives can open new avenues to improve business effectiveness. Drawing on Oxfam’s experience of working with companies to address these challenges, the paper concludes with suggestions for the role of procurement professionals in ensuring good practice. It highlights the importance of understanding and support for these developments from C-suite and suggests ways that supply chain professionals can tackle these issues proactively.

Keywords: sourcing; buyer; supply chain; human rights; risk management; compliance

The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.

Already a subscriber? Login or review other options.

Author's Biography

Rachel Wilshaw is the ethical trade manager for Oxfam GB, in Oxfam’s Campaigns, Policy and Influencing team. Her role involves advocacy and advice to companies on respecting labour rights in global supply chains. Rachel is the author of UK Supermarket Supply Chains: Ending the human suffering behind our food, Why is Oxfam campaigning against Aldi? and What more should supermarkets do to respect workers’ rights in their supply chains? Other publications include ‘Labour Rights in Vietnam: Unilever’s Progress and Systemic Challenges’, ‘In work but trapped in poverty’ and ‘Steps Towards a Living Wage in Global Supply Chains’.

Beck Wallace is an ethical trade adviser for Oxfam GB. Beck holds a Masters of Research in global politics and has worked in international development for 20 years. During that time, she has focused on various aspects of the private sector’s contributions to development internationally. At Oxfam, Beck works in critical friendships with companies to identify and improve the human rights impacts of their operations and supply chains globally. Beck also works with businesses towards achieving the systemic changes needed to ensure businesses do no harm and contribute to realising the rights of the people who produce the goods and services they buy and sell. As part of this work, Beck leads Oxfam GB’s public policy on modern slavery and co-authors the annual modern slavery statement under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Citation

Wilshaw, Rachel and Wallace, Beck (2019, December 1). How to operate a robust sourcing programme to manage human rights risks, and why you should do it. In the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Volume 2, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.69554/FYSV9963.

Options

  • Download PDF
  • Share this page
    Share This Article
    Messaging
    • Outlook
    • Gmail
    • Yahoo!
    • WhatsApp
    Social
    • Facebook
    • X
    • LinkedIn
    • VKontakte
    Permalink
cover image, Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement
Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement
Volume 2 / Issue 2
© Henry Stewart
Publications LLP

The Business & Management Collection

  • ISSN: 2059-7177
  • Contact Us
  • Request Free Trial
  • Recommend to Your Librarian
  • Subscription Information
  • Match Content
  • Share This Collection
  • Embed Options
  • View Quick Start Guide
  • Accessibility

Categories

  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations

Librarian Information

  • General Information
  • MARC Records
  • Discovery Services
  • Onsite & Offsite Access
  • Federated (Shibboleth) Access
  • Usage Statistics
  • Promotional Materials
  • Testimonials

About Us

  • About HSTalks
  • Editors
  • Contact Information
  • About the Journals

HSTalks Home

Follow Us On:

HS Talks
  • Site Requirements
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
© Copyright Henry Stewart Talks Ltd

Personal Account Required

To use this function, you need to be signed in with a personal account.

If you already have a personal account, please login here.

Otherwise you may sign up now for a personal account.

HS Talks

Cookies and Privacy

We use cookies, and similar tools, to improve the way this site functions, to track browsing patterns and enable marketing. For more information read our cookie policy and privacy policy.

Cookie Settings

How Cookies Are Used

Cookies are of the following types:

  • Essential to make the site function.
  • Used to analyse and improve visitor experience.

For more information see our Cookie Policy.

Some types of cookies can be disabled by you but doing so may adversely affect functionality. Please see below:

(always on)

If you block these cookies or set alerts in your browser parts of the website will not work.

Cookies that provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. If not allowed functionality may be impaired.

Cookies that count and track visits and on website activity enabling us to organise the website to optimise the experience of users. They may be blocked without immediate adverse effect.