Case 38: Tragedy in Bangladesh: The Rana Plaza Factory Collapse
1. Who are the stakeholders in this case and what are their stakes? What are the ethical issues?
2. Based on your study of the building collapse in Bangladesh, which party or parties do you
think are responsible and why?
The Bangladesh government, the Bangladeshi manufacturers, and the U.S. and other clothing
firms who utilized those factories are all liable. The Bangladesh government is liable because it
3. What role does the government of Bangladesh assume in this building collapse and other
safety violations?
4. Do Western companies have an obligation to safeguard the safety of workers in foreign lands
where the products they sell are made?
5. What are the pros and cons of companies working together in an accord to address safety
violations versus taking independent action to address the issues in the plants they use? Do both
approaches represent sound global corporate citizenship?
The benefits of companies working together in an accord is the systemization of policies and
procedures as well as the development of best practices regarding inspections and remediation.
6. Do research on this case to bring all the facts up to date. Has anything significant changed? If
so, integrate these findings into your analysis.
7. What is your appraisal of companies that decide Bangladesh is too risky a country for them to
do business in?
8. What is the responsibility of consumers to the employees in other countries where our
products are made? Is the writer correct that What can consumers do to
address this mindset?