Child Labor Exploitation and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study of the Specialty Store Retailer of Private Label Apparel Brands in Bangladesh

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly important in the contemporary business environment, ethical and social responsibilities are not exercised to a sufficient degree. In the course of global firms’ management in underdeveloped countries, violations of human rights such as child labor exploitation, low wages, forced labor, and toxic work environment occur. Thanks to low wages and child labor in those nations, global brands of fast fashion have generated large profits. This study was motivated by a tragic accident that took place in April 2013 in Bangladesh, where a garment and apparel factory collapsed, resulting in the death of more than 1,100 workers. In this study, we discuss the problem of child labor in Bangladesh, thereby raising awareness of CSR once more. As the scope of corporate obligations is gradually widening in contemporary business environments, a child labor problem becomes increasingly significant. This paper tries to reestablish the concept of CSR by investigating the actual situation of child labor exploitation in Bangladesh.