An Investigation of the Social Sustainability Practices in Zambia's Mining Supply Chains: A Focus on Payment Practices

Abstract

Despite social sustainability being an increasingly prominent focus of policy and scientific discourse, implementing practices to address decent working conditions in the management of supply chains is still an issue with many companies. One area that has become a growing concern is the reported social problems related to decent working conditions amongst suppliers in developing countries, with failures to implement socially sustainable practices. The consequences of failure to implement socially sustainable practices are seen with the reported deteriorating social conditions related to poor pay practices, job insecurity and poor labour conditions in the mining supply chains in Zambia. This study contributes to the emerging area of research on social sustainability by examining how supply chains in developing countries contribute to practices towards improving social sustainability. This thesis draws on several streams of literature and incorporates the viewpoints of activity theory, in-depth case studies and interviews examine practices in relation to the contradictions inherent in improving and introducing social sustainability practices and how the contradictions are addressed. Regarding the contradictions, findings reveal that lead firms face economic- social contradictions in seeking to address market pressures. Yet, as they face the growing demand, along with strong pressures from internal and external stakeholders regarding the need to improve social sustainability, contradictions emerge between different social goals. Findings further show that in addressing contradictions between the social and economic goals, organisations use trade-offs (choose economic over social) while others live with the contradictions. In addition, findings advance knowledge about contradictions in supply chains by highlighting that the actions towards improving social sustainability not only result in trade-offs between economic and social goals, but this also show that trade-offs can occur within the social dimensions as well (e.g. between competing social goals). This study offers a contradiction analysis view that can bring activity theory to supply chain-based research. This helps to provide insights into the inter-organisational tensions, contradictory pressures between economic and social goals, trade-offs and the power imbalances associated with improving and introducing social sustainability practices. This study further highlights the key dynamics, contradictions, and approaches for supply chain managers/ practitioners, policy makers to be aware of in the process of improving and introducing changes and practices towards social sustainability.

Date of Award	1 Aug 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Maria Sharmina (Supervisor)