Towards Socially Sustainable Ready-Made Garment Supply Chains: Challenges, Theoretical Insights, and Future Research Directions

Belal, HM ORCID: 0000-0001-6737-1445 Towards Socially Sustainable Ready-Made Garment Supply Chains: Challenges, Theoretical Insights, and Future Research Directions. Journal of Supply Chain Management Systems. ISSN 2277-1387 (Accepted)

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Abstract

This article is based on a critical review of the published literature on social sustainability in Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector. The RMG sector in Bangladesh is important not only to Bangladesh but also to the entire globe. The RMG sector of Bangladesh not only supports the livelihoods of nearly 4.2 million people, comprising nearly 60 per cent of the female population, but also contributes nearly 11 per cent of the total national GDP and accounts for nearly 85 per cent of Bangladesh's total foreign earnings. Despite the importance of the RMG sector, Bangladesh's RMG has a reputation for producing low-cost garments, which is probably one of the main reasons it is a favoured outsourcing destination. However, despite these strengths, the RMG sector of Bangladesh has been exposed due to poor working conditions, exploitation of the labourers, poor health benefits, and high gender inequality, despite women being the dominant workforce. These factors contribute to poor social performance, raising serious questions about the social sustainability of the RMG sector. In this article, the author critically engages with recent publications from reputable outlets, classifies the social sustainable supply chain literature using organisational theories, and offers rich directions for academics, managers, and policymakers in the RMG sector.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Supply Chain management; Ready-made garment sector; Social Sustainability; Sustainable Development; Sustainable Development Goals
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business > HF5410 Marketing. Distribution of Products T Technology > TT Handicrafts Arts and crafts > TT490 Clothing manufacture. Dressmaking.Tailoring
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Publisher:	Publishing India Group
Date of acceptance:	17 June 2026
Date Deposited:	02 Jul 2026 12:45
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2026 13:40
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28930

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