Primark's Ethical Practices: A Kantian Perspective
Added on 2020-02-24
7 Pages1800 Words76 Views
|
|
|
Critique of news article1
IntroductionThe following essay is based on the ethical theories such as utilitarianism, egoism and theKant’s ethics. The subject of ethics engages systematizing, protecting as well as indicatingtowards the concepts and the ideas that are right or wrong. Ethics possess 3 sub-branches, themeta ethics, normative ethics as well as the applied ethics. This study highlights the sectionof normative ethics that focuses on getting more practical thereby attaining the moralstandards which control the aspects of what is right and what is wrong (Crane & Matten,2016). Utilitarianism theory falls under the category of normative ethics that refers to the moralapproach taken by the enterprises. Ethical egoism is also another normative theory whichstresses on the aspect that the promotion done by the enterprises must align with that to moralvalues and ethics. Kant’s theory is another instance of normative branch of ethics whichstates that the right or the wrong doings is independent of the consequences. However, on theother hand, the right and the wrong doings depend on the aspects that to what extent they areable to fulfil their responsibilities. The article that has been selected for this essay is takenfrom ethical performance, 2016 naming “Primark to expand ethical trading team as DFIDpartnership kicks off”. This essay will mainly highlight the above mentioned ethical theoriesthereby developing an argument on ethical trading through corporate social responsibility ofPrimark (De George, 2011). DiscussionPrimark and ethical trading Primark is an Irish retailer that is mainly owned by AB Foods and possesses its headquartersin Dublin. It was funded in 1962 and has its presence in more than 325 global destinations. Itmainly caters to its consumers in clothing and apparel segment. It sells products like men andwomen clothing, children clothes, cosmetics and other accessories and so on. As recordedduring 2015, the company exhibited annual revenue of £ 5347 million. There are aroundmore than 70,000 working lives related to the business. Further the company is also knownfor its “fast fashion trending” concept. However according to the article, it is studied that theassociation has been looking forward to collaborating with DFID (Department forinternational Development) which is present in UK (Ethicalperformance.com, 2016). 2
The collaboration is aimed to develop the existent working conditions pertaining to theclothing industry workers especially located in developing markets. Primark has also statedthat the partnership will usher and amalgamate the presence, business grid as well as thetalents and expertise corresponding to both enterprises. Furthermore, the objectives have beensuch set that it will mainly focus on protecting the health and safety of the workers therebybringing in national economic improvement which in a way will work towards eradicatingthe issue of poverty in 5 significant markets of Primark. Nonetheless, the business iswitnessed to work along with as many as 700 suppliers, where many of them belong tonations like Bangladesh, India, Burma, Ethiopia as well as Pakistan. The company hasinitiated training concerning the areas of gender inequality in the clothing factories as well asaimed for training nurses (Lindgreen & Swaen, 2010). However, the collaboration is alsoknown to highlight the areas concerning the working conditions that the female workers haveto persevere. Therefore it can be noted that Primark has always been working on its trade ethics therebylinking the issue with that to corporate social responsibility (Groves & LaRocca, 2011). Corporate social responsibility and PrimarkThe term corporate social responsibility refers to the responsibilities corresponding to thebusiness enterprise which it possesses towards the stakeholders involved. CSR is mainlyaddressed by the associations so that they are able to conduct fair business through theimplementation of ethical trading thereby dealing with the requirements of the stakeholdersfairly. Primark is definitely no exception to this case. It is already known that the companypossess an international supply chain system with an ever rising retail base thus believing inthe approach that businesses must be conducted with ethics and responsibly (McGee, 2010). Nonetheless, the business enterprise also believes that through the implementation of thisapproach, it will initiate change that might be a “force for good”. However, the organizationhas been providing bread to as many as 700,000 working lives and therefore considers it as aresponsibility to safeguard their working rights and security. Moreover, the businessenterprise does not possess any entities or any factories that manufacture the products it sell,however, possesses a strong conviction that it is legally and ethically responsible towards itsconsumers as well as the shareholders. Thus Primark came up with the HER projectpertaining to Bangladesh thus looking forward to inculcate positive changes corresponding tothe lives of the workforces employed under the suppliers. Moreover, after the Rana Plaza3
End of preview
Want to access all the pages? Upload your documents or become a member.