Hbr Cases Csr Outsourcing in Tangers 2 P

CASE STUDY : Multinational Outsourcing and CSR. Inditex: The worldwide outsourcing garment industry and social community development in Morocco “Intermón claims that pressures on foreign clothing suppliers are smothering employees. […] In Morocco, where Cortefiel, Inditex (Zara), Mango and Induyco (El Corte Inglés) manufacture their products, a Tangier based textile factory sold a pair of slacks to large Spanish retailers for 3.3 euros three years ago; today, the same item sells for 2 euros. Female factory workers work 12 to 16 hours a day during the high season, because orders from Spain demand six ‐ day delivery terms in order to suit shop window change schedules.” (El País Newspaper, “Mujeres en Aprietos”, 10 ‐ 02 ‐ 2004)

towards process outsourcing that responded to its characteristic labor ‐ intensive production and current competitive pressures for cost reduction and flexibility. Sector companies had been forced to redesign their business strategies, focusing on performance measurement, new competence and skill development, product quality improvements and more strategically oriented human resources management. Yet, this new strategic focus entailed unprecedented risks, especially as regards labor practices, environmental care and unfair competition. As multinational companies embarked on this process, multilateral agencies and global NGOs had begun to look into and report on wrongful practices by large corporations, significantly calling the attention of increasingly sensitive and aware consumers and customers. Global society was urging apparel industry players to adopt a more responsible attitude to be embraced by their entire business value chain, including vendors and outsourced suppliers. Thus, Inditex was held responsible for what went on at outsourcing shop s owned by Moroccan, Peruvian, Chinese or Indian businessmen. This was precisely why Javier Chércoles,