Multilevel approach to examining the business-migration-sustainability nexus in Bangladesh
The aim of this research project funded by TU Dresden Flexible Fund for Internationalization is to examine the business-migration-sustainability nexus in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs: 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17) by identifying how textile firms can address the grand societal challenge of migration from an inside-out perspective.
The ready-made garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh has experienced significant growth in recent years and is the country’s most important industry and critical to economic development. However, the industry also acts as a significant factor in migration and flows of workers. Our research focuses on the role of textile & RMG businesses in facilitating or hindering sustainability at a country level, more specifically we aim to explore how textile companies can help tackle (non-) migration, as well as looking to understand how textile managers can act as change agents or inhibitors of sustainable managerial practice. In order to achieve this, a multi-level barrier and drivers approach will be applied to account for trickle-down and bottom-up effects. Hereby workers, textile factory owners/top management, as well as institutional representatives will be included in the research.
The existing research gap concerning the business-migration-sustainability nexus can best be addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration between human geographers and business researchers. Consequently, we utilize the network of PRISMA – Centre for Sustainability Assessment and Policy and have formed a consortium consisting of researchers from these disciplines.
Data collection will take place in January 2019 where Dr. Lisa Koep, Dr. Matthias Damert (Chair of Business Management, esp. Sustainability Management and Environmental Accounting) and Dr. Bishawjit Mallick (Chair of Environmental Development and Risk Management) will travel to Dhaka.
Research Team
Dr. Lisa Koep, Dr. Matthias Damert, Dr. Bishawjit Mallick
Term
10/2018 to 10/2019
Financing
Technische Universität Dresden, Flexible Fund for Internationalization
Cooperation
International University Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh