The recent tragedies that have taken place in textile factories in Asia have once again put under the spotlight an issue which is taking on increasing importance, especially given the growing focus on corporate social responsibility:  the poor and dangerous working conditions in sectors such as the textile industry in developing countries.

The collapse of a clothing factory which resulted in more than a thousand deaths in Bangladesh, a fire in another factory in the same city last September which caused more than 100 deaths, and last Thursday another factory collapse, this time a shoe factory in Cambodia – are part of a troubling pattern.  Are these occurrences the result of mere irresponsibility? Willful corporate neglect? A lack of knowledge about how to manage the value chain?  Or some other reason?  In what follows we look at the current situation with regards to textile factories, what the reaction of the companies involved has been and what might be a possible solution to prevent similar events in the future.