ABSTRACT
The authors examine the role of the state in the context of human rights violations in the Bangladeshi garment industry on the backdrop of the Rana Plaza collapse of 2013. They draw on a ‘responsibilisation’ framework, to demonstrate how brands may assume a political role, taking complete responsibility by co-authoring and implementing regulations, to significantly allay concerns regarding labour governance in supply chains in developing countries. The efficacy of auditing and assurance practices are often questioned in emerging economies, where the state lacks resources and political will to safeguard the working conditions and the rights of workers breached by businesses.
