Criticism of social audits: An Analysis of the Accusations Against Social Audits in the Textile Industry Using the Example of Fair Wear Foundation Audits

Abstract

This article examines the extent to which social audits can contribute to improving working conditions in supply chains. The investigation is carried out by analysing key points of criticism using the example of the Fair Wear Foundation's audit design. Key points of criticism include the lack of stakeholder involvement in the auditing of factories and the possibility for factory managers to deliberately prepare the factory for the audit by announcing the audit date in advance. This is considered to limit the ability of auditors to accurately assess and evaluate the actual working conditions in the factories. Despite existing weaknesses, the essay assumes that social audits are beneficial in terms of improving working conditions, as they motivate factories to comply with defined social standards and ensure that responsibilities are documented and defined through social audits. If the discussed points of criticism also apply to the audit design of the Fair Wear Foundation, possibilities will be presented that can serve to record the actual conditions in the factories and, in the event of abuses being identified, to bring about a real improvement in working conditions through concrete improvements. The possibility of improving the impact of social audits is examined based on a theoretically sound conceptual analysis.

Keywords: social audits, Fair Wear Foundation, textile industry, criticism, supply chain, social standards