The mistreatment of workers in the garment making and ‘fast fashion’ industries has emerged as a prominent concern. The presence of substandard working conditions, inadequate pay, prolonged working hours without adequate breaks, and a lack of job security have all been identified as significant obstacles within these sectors. In severe cases, employees may even encounter intimidation and coercion, rendering it challenging to detect and halt exploitative practices. Moreover, the complexity of supply chains and subcontracting further obfuscates accountability, thereby fostering unethical conduct. The enforcement of legislation and the assurance of ethical standards are frequently found to be insufficient, thereby exacerbating the overall predicament.
Drawing from their comprehensive interdisciplinary research initiative, Dr Jon Davies, Professor Rose Broad and Dr Amy Benstead shed light on these issues in their recent article, “Modern Slavery and Digital Technology in ‘Fast Fashion’: The Transparency Dividend”, as accessible on the Policy@Manchester website. The authors unveil that numerous businesses operating within these industries exhibit limited awareness of how digital technology can be harnessed to forestall modern slavery and exploitation within their supply networks.
Among the technologies that the authors propose as potentially beneficial is Blockchain, which provides a real-time ledger accessible to all parties involved in a network/supply chain. This ledger comprises transaction details and contracts that cannot be retrospectively altered without the consent of all stakeholders in the network. Nonetheless, the authors ascertain that the majority of participants in their research were unfamiliar with the practical business application of Blockchain.
Moreover, businesses cognizant of tools such as Blockchain were inclined to perceive them as a ‘gimmick’ that fails to address the underlying rationales for modern slavery. Small businesses may lack the resources or expertise required to implement Blockchain, while larger fashion brands were apprehensive about implementing it due to concerns regarding reputational damage if instances of exploitation were brought to light as a consequence.
In light of their findings, the scholars from The University of Manchester proffer several policy recommendations to redress the issues delineated in their article. These recommendations encompass initiating a governmental consultation or inquiry involving policymakers, industry representatives, regulators, and academia to deliberate on the advantages and drawbacks of implementing tools such as Blockchain within the fashion industry. They also advocate for mandating businesses to eschew ‘tech-washing’ and linked human rights violations by articulating their actions and the extent to which they employ digital technology.
The authors further propose the establishment of a Single Enforcement Body (SEB) to amalgamate pivotal regulatory agencies, alongside renewing the commitment to establishing a SEB, as enshrined in the 2024 Labour Party Manifesto.
To conclude, the scourge of modern slavery and exploitation within the fashion industry is a pressing concern that can be mitigated through the strategic integration of digital technology. The deployment of tools such as Blockchain holds promise in enhancing accountability and trust among stakeholders. By addressing the challenges prevalent within these sectors and embracing digital technology, there exists a prospect of fashioning a more transparent and ethical fashion industry.