Ethical Decision-Making in Supply Chains: Child Labour Case
A reflective analysis of ethical decision-making frameworks applied to child labour issues in supply chains, featuring a case study on CT Confectionary.
Ethical Decision-Making Reflection
Child Labour Case – CT Confectionary
Your Name | Unit Code
ROLE & CONTEXT
My Role: Investigator
Investigating child labour issue at CT Confectionary
Examining supply chain practices
Applying ethical decision-making frameworks
Initial Reaction
Child Labour = Unethical
Immediate urge to terminate partnership
Reaction driven by emotion
Judgment made without full context
Ethical Framework
1. Identify Issue
2. Stakeholders
3. Evaluate Options
4. Make Decision
(Brown University, n.d.)
Complex Decision
⚖️ Ethics
No clear right or wrong
Competing moral values
Risk of harm to children
💰 Economic Reality
Families depend on income
Poverty drives child labour
Abrupt exit worsens conditions
Final Decision
Continue the Partnership
Under Strict Conditions:
Regular Audits
Minimum Age Limits
Education Support Programs
Ongoing Monitoring
Stakeholder Analysis
(Stakeholder Theory)
Children
Safety & Protection
Access to Education
Company (CT Confectionary)
Brand Reputation
Ethical Responsibility
Suppliers
Economic Income
Livelihood Support
Cultural Awareness
🌍 My Perspective
Child labour is morally wrong
Viewed through Western ethical lens
Based on rights & protection values
🤝 Other Contexts
Extreme poverty as a driver
Work as survival necessity
Cultural and economic differences
Understanding context is essential to ethical judgement.
What I Learned
I made quick, emotion-driven judgments
My initial view was limited in perspective
Ethical issues require deeper analysis
Frameworks help structure complex thinking
Future Approach
Use ethical frameworks before deciding
Apply structured principles and ethical theories to navigate complex moral dilemmas effectively.
Consider all stakeholders involved
Analyze potential impacts on employees, local communities, management, and global partners.
Understand cultural & economic context
Recognize regional nuances, traditions, and economic realities that shape organizational operations.
Think critically before passing judgment
Evaluate all available evidence impartially to avoid biased, emotional, or impatient conclusions.
Action Plan / Summary
Ethical decisions are never simple.
Balance, empathy & understanding are essential.
Good ethics requires both knowledge and courage.
References
Brown University. (n.d.). A framework for making ethical decisions. Brown University Science and Technology Studies. Retrieved from https://www.brown.edu
Kolk, A., & Van Tulder, R. (2002). Child labor and multinational conduct: A comparison of international business and stakeholder codes. Social Responsibility Journal, 11(1), 65–84.
Jones, C., Parker, M., & ten Bos, R. (2005). For business ethics. Routledge.
CT Confectionary Case Study
- business-ethics
- ethical-frameworks
- supply-chain
- child-labour
- stakeholder-analysis
- case-study
- corporate-responsibility