Technology enabled tools to support worker agency and empowerment in global garment supply chains

RMIT Researchers

• Dr Annie Delaney
• Assoc Prof Shelley Marshall

Project Description

The project will provide researchers and partners with valuable information to assist them improve the identification, prevention, mitigation and remediation of labour rights-related risks in garment supply chains. It will also investigate the benefits and limitations of mobile phone technology as a tool for the promotion of worker voice and empowerment.

The project will investigate monitored by the mobile phone are representative of the population working within the supply chains of the companies. In particular, the researchers will determine whether there are informal or home-based workers who are not reached by the mobile phone technologies. Participatory supply chain mapping techniques have been used repeatedly by the research team in the past. 

The aim of this project is to investigate the extent to which the use of mobile phone technology in the garment sector:

(i)    addresses a range of labour rights issues that are relevant both to the suppliers and factory based workers, and informal workers

(ii)    has the potential to reach, informal and homebased workers

(iii) enhances worker voice, both individual and collective

(iv)  influences worker perceptions of those actors with which they are communicating via the tools;

(v)   leads to continuous learning, changes in business procurement behaviour and strategies and remedying of problems identified.

Theme

Labour in Supply Chains

Key Words

supply chains, technology, informal work