ETHICAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PURCHASING PRACTICE IN AN INDUSTRY (A CASE STUDY OF AL-AMSAD RICE MILL)

ABSTRACT Ethical and social responsibilities naturally prescribe the behaviour that is appropriate or expected of purchasers. But the pertinent or crucial question is whether in reality purchasers are adhering ethically and socially responsible? Are purchasers attaching importance to the satisfaction of industries in acquisition of material and enhancing high level of productivity. The objective of this research is to examine the ethical and social responsibility of the purchasing practice in an industry. Secondary data were sourced from official documents, reports, journals, textbooks, and online publications relating to material handling and cost management. The findings from the data analysis showed that the company demonstrates high compliance with ethical procurement standards such as transparency, fairness, avoidance of corruption, and adherence to established ethical guidelines. The results also revealed that Al-Amsad Rice Mill practices social responsibility by supporting local farmers, offering fair pricing to suppliers, ensuring safety and welfare considerations, and showing environmental concerns in its purchasing activities. The study suggests that Management should continue to train procurement staff on ethical standards and anti-corruption practices to maintain transparency and fairness. The company should expand support for local farmers and suppliers through capacity-building programs and fair pricing mechanisms. Greater emphasis should be placed on environmentally sustainable purchasing policies such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sourcing from eco-friendly suppliers.