Consumers expect global apparel suppliers to adhere to strict social sustainability standards following several deadly noncompliance incidents. This study provides a unique contribution to social sustainability governance by utilizing a causal-effect analysis to classify noncompliance antecedents into causal and effect groups and analyze the interactions. Combining a structured Delphi technique, involving thirty senior manufacturing professionals in the Indian apparel sector, with a fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method (DEMATEL) revealed specific antecedents related to the adherence to social sustainability standards. The most influential antecedents identified were manufacturing cluster behavior, stringent regulations, multiple standards, business continuity, and buyer preference. Notably, the study theorizes that a supplier's compliance deliberations intertwine with operational considerations around business volumes, costs, inappropriate governance, and regional cultural norms. Stakeholder theory and the theory of reasoned action help explain the institutional logics underlying the interactions between antecedents and highlight the crucial need for local production hubs to adopt universal social compliance codes. To our knowledge, this research is the first to identify manufacturing cluster behavior as a leading cause of noncompliance, highlighting the need to recognize clusters as essential stakeholders. The study has notable implications for brands, suppliers, governments, manufacturing councils, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that call for coordinated action and new forms of governance to minimize the incidences of noncompliance by apparel suppliers.

消费者期望全球服装供应商在发生几起致命的违规事件后遵守严格的社会可持续性标准。这项研究通过使用因果效应分析将违规行为的前因归类为因果和效应组，并分析相互作用，从而为社会可持续性治理做出了独特的贡献。结合了涉及印度服装行业的30名高级制造专业人士的结构化Delphi技术与模糊决策试验和评估实验室方法（DEMATEL）的结合，揭示了与遵守社会可持续性标准有关的特定前提。确定的最有影响力的前因是制造集群行为，严格的法规，多种标准，业务连续性和购买者偏好。值得注意的是 该研究的理论是，供应商的合规性审议与围绕业务量，成本，不适当的治理以及区域文化规范的运营考虑交织在一起。利益相关者理论和合理行动理论有助于解释各先行之间相互作用背后的制度逻辑，并突出表明了当地生产中心采用通用社会责任法规的关键需求。据我们所知，这项研究是第一个将制造集群行为识别为不合规的主要原因的研究，突显了将集群识别为主要利益相关者的必要性。该研究对品牌，供应商，政府，制造委员会，