What does this research mean for the field?

Macro-level pressures drive garment suppliers to adopt modern slavery prevention mechanisms, but meso-level organizational factors undermine their effectiveness, resulting in symbolic implementation that discourages workers from disclosing exploitation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how macro-level pressures drive the adoption of modern slavery prevention mechanisms, how organizational factors shape their effectiveness, and how they affect worker exploitation disclosure in garment suppliers.

August 28, 2026International Journal of Operations & Production Management

Rules in the light, voices in the dark: exploring pressures and exploitation disclosure behaviour in ready-made garment suppliers

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Authors

THTanjil HossainUniversity of Hull MBMamoon Al BashirUniversity of Huddersfield MJMeng JiaUniversity of Leicester

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Implication

Qualitative interview study reveals that symbolic modern slavery prevention mechanisms drive worker non-disclosure of exploitation in garment suppliers, highlighting organizational barriers to safety.

Key Points

To examine how macro-level pressures drive the adoption of modern slavery prevention mechanisms, how organizational factors shape their effectiveness, and how they affect worker exploitation disclosure in garment suppliers.
Conducted a qualitative study utilizing an abductive approach in Bangladesh's ready-made garment sector.
Gathered empirical data from secondary sources and 45 semi-structured interviews with workers, factory managers, trade union representatives, lawyers, and non-governmental organization officers.
Analyzed findings across macro, meso, and micro levels using institutional theory and the theory of planned behaviour.
Macro-level pressures regarding market access, competitiveness, and professional legitimacy compel suppliers to formally adopt preventive policies, grievance mechanisms, digital reporting systems, and training programs.
Meso-level organizational constraints—specifically weak managerial commitment, severe cost and delivery pressures, and fragmented supply chain oversight—render these mechanisms merely symbolic.
Symbolic implementation fosters negative attitudes, unsupportive workplace norms, and low perceived behavioural control among workers, leading directly to the non-disclosure of labor exploitation.

Cite This Study

Hossain et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9145ead15324a1df3a92d0 https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-10-2025-0996

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Rules in the light, voices in the dark: exploring pressures and exploitation disclosure behaviour in ready-made garment suppliers

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Rules in the light, voices in the dark: exploring pressures and exploitation disclosure behaviour in ready-made garment suppliers

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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