Welcome to the Who Pays For The Crisis? portal. Here we present up-to-date information on the key intersection between supply chain resilience, purchasing practices and worker rights.

Why now?

Brand purchasing practices significantly influence labour rights outcomes – yet this connection is too often under-appreciated and under-examined. We have witnessed an alarming increase in disruptions to purchasing models - exacerbated by economic slowdowns, political instability, and the impacts of the climate emergency in sourcing countries. This has led to factory closures, reduced hours, and non-payment of wages, underscoring the urgent need for ethical purchasing models that prioritise human rights over profit margins. And as parts of the industry also see increased pressure on their business models, this moment provides an opportunity for the industry to centre sustainable growth and the rights of workers. Join us as we navigate the complexities of the apparel and footwear industry and advocate for practices that safeguard worker livelihoods and safe workplaces.

What?

Through a series of live newsfeeds, labour rights allegation tracking and deep-dive research into supply chain shocks in the apparel sector we will build evidence revealing who, in fact, is paying for these crises facing the sector. As the industry experiences increased pressure on and critique of its business model, we explore how this moment provides an opportunity for the industry to reform its purchasing models to centre sustainable growth and the rights of people and planet.

As part of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Who Pays For The Crisis? portal, we will round up the key trends at the intersection of labour rights and purchasing practices that we’ve monitored every six months. We also provide an overview of the allegations linked to supply chain instability and purchasing practices, and provide an analysis of brands’ responses to our requests for further information.