ABSTRACT
The objective of this research was to gain a better understanding of the management systems used by multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the implementation of corporate social responsibility and corporate codes of conduct across three sectors: footwear, apparel and retail. Originally, footwear, apparel and retail were primarily locally based manufacturing operations, created on what is referred to as the 'Fordist' business model of production. This term originated from fully vertically integrated enterprises such as the Ford Motor Company, which manufactured every aspect of the automobile from the tyres to the steering wheel. In the formal reporting arena, the trend has been for MNEs to increasingly report on the environmental and social impacts of their operations, to the point where many corporations, both domestic and international, produce 'sustainability reports' as a standard industry practice. The inclusion of labour and employment information continues to be rather weak.
