The impacts of codes of practice on worker livelihoods: empirical evidence from the South African wine and Kenyan cut flower industries

Nelson, Valerie, Martin, Adrienne and Ewert, Joachim (2007) The impacts of codes of practice on worker livelihoods: empirical evidence from the South African wine and Kenyan cut flower industries. Journal of Corporate Citizenship (28). pp. 61-72. ISSN 1470-5001

Abstract

This article presents the findings of an innovative, longitudinal, comparative study of the impacts of social and environmental codes of practice in the South African
wine and Kenyan cut flower industries. The research aimed to provide systematic empirical evidence of whether such codes can make a difference to the livelihoods
of workers, since this kind of evidence is lacking in the corporate responsibility discourse.
Changes in the livelihoods of disaggregated groups of workers in terms of material, social and empowerment criteria were tracked and measured over a threeyear
period (2002–2005) in order to identify the specific impact of codes of practice. This paper sets out the findings regarding the material, social and empowerment
outcomes for workers. It analyses the perspectives of company managers, sets out the issues regarding the wider impacts of codes for households, local communities,
other key actors and institutions and explores the potential role of the emerging multi-stakeholder initiatives. In conclusion, the extent to which codes can make a positive contribution to workers in these (and other) agri-industries, the limitations
of their power as a driver for change in highly inequitable value chains and the possibilities of seeking alternative strategies for workers and smallholders are discussed

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