Adiba Afros is an independent researcher and consultant specializing in labour rights, gender justice and ethical supply chains in the textile and garment industries.
With over 12 years of experience across the private sector, trade unions, civil society, and policymaking, she helps businesses, NGOs and stakeholders navigate the intersection of responsible business and human rights. Born and raised in Dhaka, she is currently based in Berlin.
Question 1: What are the three things people should know about you?
Extensive Business and Human Rights Experience: I have worked across the institutional spectrum of garment supply chains—including brands, suppliers, unions, civil society organizations, academia and policymakers—bridging the gap between corporate responsibility and workers’ rights.
Interdisciplinary Expertise: My academic background in business management and social science research allows me to apply cutting-edge research to real-world challenges while effectively translating knowledge across diverse stakeholders.
Global Perspective: Having lived in six countries—Bangladesh (Dhaka), Jordan (Amman), Germany (Berlin), Singapore, the UK (London), and the USA (Ithaca), I bring a cross-cultural approach to human rights and business challenges, recognizing that diversity and local context is key to sustainable solutions.
Question 2: What fascinates you about your work?
Human stories. They motivate and connect me to my work on a fundamental level.
Some of my most formative experiences have come from listening to people’s stories—such as why young women moved from their villages to urban areas or migrated to another country to work in garment factories and how the world of work affects their ability to realize their aspirations.
I am equally intrigued by the experiences of women in management, generational shifts in mindsets between younger and older factory employers, and the motivations of sustainability experts and brand CSR managers in driving change.
Question 3: If there were no limitations, what would you recommend companies do to advance the rights of people in business?
Engage with rights holders and affected communities: Engage directly with the people whose rights are impacted by your operations. Instead of imposing predetermined notions of their needs, take the time to understand their perspectives. Explore creative and culturally attuned ways to engage with workers in your supply chains.
Foster local partnerships: Work with organizations and legitimate worker representatives in supplier countries who have deep contextual knowledge.
Adopt a collaborative mindset: Adopt a collaborative and open mindset when working with supply chain partners. Recognize that everyone can contribute ideas and innovative solutions, rather than defaulting to a transactional or punitive approach. A trust-based partnership is far more effective than a rigid ‘carrot-and-stick’ model.
Question 4: What is the most pressing question in your field of work right now, and how are you approaching it?
During my discussions in Berlin, a major topic has been the uncertainty surrounding the EU HREDD regulations. Meanwhile, during my recent stay in Dhaka, following a historic student-led revolution, conversations on business and human rights have focused on strengthening governing institutions, advancing labour and gender rights, and ensuring political and economic stability.
Predictability remains a key concern across supply chains. The lack of regulatory clarity affects both businesses in Europe and manufacturing hubs like Bangladesh, where companies must invest in long-term improvements but face challenges without clear guidance.
In this context, a trust-based, collaborative approach is crucial. Meaningful dialogue—whether framed as stakeholder engagement or otherwise—requires active listening, mutual understanding, and recognition of each actor’s strengths and limitations.
Question 5: What will the world of responsible business look like in 10 years?
Given the state of the world today, predicting the next decade is difficult. While widely discussed trends—such as AI, climate change, political instability—will shape the future of work, we still (unfortunately) need to ensure the fundamentals of responsible business.
Firstly, responsible businesses must ensure living wages for their workers, uphold gender parity across supply chains, and engage constructively with all stakeholders—including rights holders and communities affected by business operations.
Secondly, businesses should align their internal values with human and environmental well-being rather than pursuing indefinite growth. We must recognize when ‘enough is enough’—our planet cannot sustain limitless expansion, and the 99% will not be relocating to Mars.
Finally, we need to pause and reflect on our personal values, integrating them into both our work and personal lives. I firmly believe that when employees feel a sense of purpose in their work, they are intrinsically motivated to excel and contribute innovatively. At the core, I think most people share the fundamental values of justice and human dignity for all.
