Briefing Paper: Ethical Considerations for Primark and Child Labour

This briefing paper, directed to the Managing Director of Primark Stores Limited, addresses the ethical implications of child labour within the company's supply chain. The paper begins with an overview of relevant UK legislation, including the Factory Act of 1878 and the Education Act of 1880, and the role of international bodies like the International Labour Organisation. It then analyzes current views and ethical perspectives on child labour, emphasizing its unethical nature and impact on children's rights and development. The report identifies economic, social, and political pressures faced by clothing retail companies like Primark, including the effects on brand image and legal issues. Drawing on real-life examples, the paper explores ethical aspects and provides options for clothing retail companies, such as ceasing the use of child labor or lobbying for its ban, and concludes with a summary of findings.

Drawing on real-life examples
and ethical theories, write -A
briefing paper for the managing
direct
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
SUMMARY.....................................................................................................................................3
Legislation...................................................................................................................................3
CURRENT VIEWS AND ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON CHILD LABOUR.............................4
ETHICAL ASPECTS .....................................................................................................................5
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL & POLITICAL PRESSURES FACED BY CLOTHING RETAIL
COMPANIES..................................................................................................................................6
Economic pressures.....................................................................................................................6
Social pressures............................................................................................................................6
Political pressures........................................................................................................................6
OPTIONS FOR CLOTHING RETAIL COMPANIES...................................................................7
Option 1: Stop hiring child as workforce.....................................................................................7
Option 2: Design lobby or team to ban child labour....................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
Current paper is directed to the Managing Director of Primark Stores Limited. Paper will
provide briefing on the ethical issues on buying supplies from company that uses child labour.
Key behind the paper is to consider the ethics in respect to human resource and child labour by
evaluating different perspectives in regard to ethical work conditions. The paper will include an
outline of the current legislation of child labour (Humphries, 2013). It will also focus on
identification of economic, social and political pressures which affect the business of Primark
Stores Limited. Along with this, the impact of economic, social and political pressure on clothing
retail industry will also be evaluated in the study (Jørgensen, Lai and Hauschild, 2010). This
paper will draw up a list of possible results that can assist in dealing with ethical issues that are
identified in this study.
SUMMARY
Legislation
 In UK the Factory Act of 1878 is being established to protect children from abuse
 Education Act of 1880 is also one of legislative that make sure that the children and kids
are having approach to the school facilities.
 UK government is more concern about child labour so authorities are having continuous
implementation of initiatives that protect child from abuse (Acosta, 2011).
 International Labour Organisation has helped to set out international law that may reduce
the issue regarding child labour.
 Legislations are framed to empower children and make sure that to provide kids better
life.
 Every nation has set out policies to cut down the issue in regard to child labour.
 The Factory Act prohibited the employment of children younger than nine years of age
(Qvortrup, 2009)
 Factory Act only allows children between nine and 13 to work for limited hours in a day
or week.
 Number of programs has been started by the social working authorities and government
departments to cut down the issue in regard to child labour (Fors, 2012).
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CURRENT VIEWS AND ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON CHILD LABOUR
Child labour is considered as employment of kids in any kind of corporate or business. In
most of the nations it is referred as illegal activity so businesses must ensure about it in
appropriate manner. Mostly child labour is occurred due to improper support of lively-hod so it
is necessary for authorities to have focus on activities that can improve social lively-hod. Along
with this, the initiative in respect to child empowerment are beneficial to reduce the issue. By
offering free education to children's the issue can also be resolved in appropriate manner. In
current period there are number of social workers and authorities who are having an effort to
empower children (Jones, Temperley and Lima, 2009). Number of campaigns and other
activities are being conducted in order to create awareness about child labour. Government
authorities are having changes in legislations to ensure that the issue of child labour can be
overcome in appropriate manner.
As per the report of UN (United Nations), around 251 million children's are affected due
to child labour. They do not have opportunity to go to school and play in grounds. It has also
been noticed the improper nutrition is also one of critical issue that impact their development.
Many of kids are exposed to the worst circumstances due to child labour (Ritch and Schröder,
2012). Forceful labour is critical aspect that impacts children growth and promote child labour.
In order to overcome such issues the international labour organisation and other government
bodies are focused towards setting out strict labour standards. Authorities has been considered a
supervision of labour standards so elements in respect to child labour can be ensured (Jones,
2009). In order to have better understanding and empowering children in appropriate manner the
authorities has global estimates in three aspects. Classification of categories can be as
economically active kids, child labour and children in hazardous work.
Ethical aspects must be considered by businesses in order to make sure that the ratio of
child labour is being reduced. It is significant to focus on various standards and policies that are
designed to ensure that the issue in regard to child labour can be overcome. Child labour is
considered as unethical practice it impacts the lifestyle and development of children in negative
manner (Kjørholt and Qvortrup, 2011). It is referred as harmful section of work which decreases
the opportunities for the children. If any kind of business is involved in this practice then it is
considered unethical practice because it restricts children to fulfil their rights. In addition to this,
the business ethics are considered as set of principles and moral values that may guide the
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behaviour of organisation and its employees (Cooter, 2013). Child labour is considered as factor
that impact moral values in diverse manner and impact working of organisation.
ETHICAL ASPECTS
It has been noticed that the Primark has opened its stores in Britain but company has
spotted to involve in unethical practice like child labour. Children's were working on day basis
and company was only paying 60 p to them. Fab and Fabric was major supplier of Primark and it
has been noticed that supplier company was indirect involved in child labour promotion because
its middle men was hiring children to work in factory (Hashim and Thorsen, 2011). After this,
the company has denied allegations of forced labour. Organisation has said that they are well
aware of their responsibilities but the unethical practice involvement has impacted business in
negative manner. Brand image of company has also influenced that creates further legal issues
for the company. In addition to this, it can be stated that the issues in respect to ethics may affect
the working of organisation and lead to key failure (Humphries, 2013).
According to ethical consideration, the business must focus on government policies and
standards in order to ensure that they are not involved in child labour or unethical practice.
Children work due to their personal and lively-hod problems but instead of providing jobs the
businesses must promote their empowerment (Jørgensen, Lai and Hauschild, 2010). Common
law must be designed in order to ensure that the child labour issues are not being promoted in the
society.
Other than this, the Apple has also spotted involvement of child labour in its supply chain
that has created issues for company. Management has identified that its one of Chinese company
that employed 74 children under the age of 16. Internal audit has found that work environment
issue were increasing due to employment of children's (Acosta, 2011). After this, organisation
has changed its working criteria and set out number of measure in respect to supply chain.
Management has focused on hiring of independent auditor and fair labour association. It has
provided a great support to the organisation in order to overcome the issues in respect to child
labour (Qvortrup, 2009). However, the company has also penalised the supplier to involve in
unethical practice.
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ECONOMIC, SOCIAL & POLITICAL PRESSURES FACED BY
CLOTHING RETAIL COMPANIES
Economic pressures
Child labour has been great issue from the traditional time period and it has great impact
on the social policies and taxes. Human resource issue is one of great issue in the UK that also
creates economic conflicts. It is because the productivity of companies is being decreased that
may impact economic growth. It means the Primark and other retail firms are forced to maintain
the economic growth rate (Fors, 2012). In this respect, the recruitment and other agencies can be
hired by the companies to make sure that the issues can be resolved. It will boost the growth of
other companies of service industry so that economic aspects can be well maintained. Child
labour also has direct negative impact on organisations economic elements because it impacts
morale of society in negative manner (Jones, Temperley and Lima, 2009). It may cut down the
sales ratio which will have direct influence on the economic development.
Social pressures
It has been noticed that the human rights measures accomplishment is one of key aspect
that create social pressure on the companies. If companies are not ensuring about ethical values
and human rights then it will affect the work environment. It is significant for organisations to
make sure that they are not involved in any kind of unethical practice so that social aspects can
be well maintained (Ritch and Schröder, 2012). If organisation like Primark is involved in any
kind of unethical practice like child labour then it will affect the customer and social perception
in negative manner. It may impact business in negative manner so it is one of social pressure for
company to ensure that key aspects are well managed.
Political pressures
One of great pressure for the Primark and other retail firm is to follow policies in
appropriate manner. Government authorities are more focused towards setting out various
standards that can cut down the unethical practice. It forces companies to redesign their
organisational process so that they can meet out key standards in appropriate manner.
Associations are focused to ensure that the company has to follow the employment laws and
regulations of the society (Jones, 2009). However, the work conditions, minimum wages, anti-
discrimination policies, age verification, etc are key aspects that forces business firm to change
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its overall process. It has been noticed that the Primark is having its operation in diverse nations
so management need to consider political aspect of different nations (Kjørholt and Qvortrup,
2011). Laws and employment policies are different from country to country so management must
ensure about it in appropriate manner.
OPTIONS FOR CLOTHING RETAIL COMPANIES
In order to have sustainable development, it is significant for business entity to focus on
diverse ways that can overcome the issue in regard to child labour. It is significant for business
firm to make sure that the standards are well followed so that overall outcome can be improved.
Option 1: Stop hiring child as workforce
Positive
 There are number of positive outcomes that can be attained by the business entity such as
ratio of child labour can be reduced (Cooter, 2013). Society and kids will able to acquire benefits from decrease in child labour.
Negative
 Business may face issue in respect to human resource for small period work because it
will cut down the availability of human resource.
 If system is not designed or implemented in appropriate manner then ratio of child labour
may be increased by few time period (Hashim and Thorsen, 2011).
Option 2: Design lobby or team to ban child labor
Positive
 By having improved design of lobby the various benefits can be provided to society in
terms of child empowerment. It is because the issues and conflict in regard to child labour
may be identified in appropriate manner. It will allow to implement measures in more effective manner so that issue can be
resolved effectively (Fors, 2012).
Negative
 Monitoring of the lobby will be questionable because the members may get influenced
due to unethical factors present within environment (Jones, Temperley and Lima, 2009).
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CONCLUSION
As per the detailed it can be concluded that the child labour is considered as one of key
aspect that may affect the overall development of business. If any business firm is having
involved in such kind of activity then it is considered as unethical practice. It has been noticed
that the business ethics is set of principles and moral values that has impact on the behavioural
aspects of the organisation. Child labour is considered as factor that impact moral values in
diverse manner and impact working of organisation. Government authorities are more focused
towards setting out various standards that can cut down the unethical practice. Along with this,
the management of business entities need to focus on few measures that may overcome issue in
appropriate manner. However, the organizations like Primark and Apple has faced conflict in
context to child labour that has impacted their business. Mostly child labour is occurred due to
improper support of lively-hod so it is necessary for authorities to have focus on activities that
can improve social lively-hod. Along with this, the initiative in respect to child empowerment are
beneficial to reduce the issue.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Humphries, J., 2013. Childhood and child labour in the British industrial revolution1. The
Economic History Review. 66(2). pp.395-418.
Jørgensen, A., Lai, L. C. and Hauschild, M. Z., 2010. Assessing the validity of impact pathways
for child labour and well-being in social life cycle assessment. The International Journal of
Life Cycle Assessment. 15(1). pp.5-16.
Acosta, P., 2011. School attendance, child labour, and remittances from international migration
in El Salvador. Journal of Development Studies. 47(6). pp.913-936.
Qvortrup, J., 2009. The Palgrave handbook of childhood studies (pp. 21-33). Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan.
Fors, H. C., 2012. Child labour: A review of recent theory and evidence with policy implications.
Journal of Economic Surveys. 26(4). pp.570-593.
Jones, B., Temperley, J. and Lima, A., 2009. Corporate reputation in the era of Web 2.0: the case
of Primark. Journal of Marketing Management. 25(9-10). pp.927-939.
Ritch, E. L. and Schröder, M. J., 2012. Accessing and affording sustainability: the experience of
fashion consumption within young families. International journal of consumer studies.
36(2). pp. 203-210.
Jones, J., 2009. Labor of love, labor of sorrow: Black women, work, and the family, from slavery
to the present. Basic Books.
Kjørholt, A. and Qvortrup, J., 2011. The modern child and the flexible labour market: early
childhood education and care. Springer.
Cooter, R., 2013. In the Name of the Child. Routledge.
Hashim, I. and Thorsen, D., 2011. Child migrants in Africa. Zed Books and the Nordic Africa
Institute.
Online
Glendenning, C. and Bell, D., 2008. Rethinking social care and support: What can England
learn from other countries?. [pdf]. Available Through: <
http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/2335.pdf>. [Accessed on: 6 July, 2016]
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Nhs health check. [Online]. Available through: <http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/nhs-health-
check/Pages/Understanding-your-NHS-Health-Check-results.aspx>. [Accessed on: 6 July,
2016]
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