Purpose <p>India plays a significant role in producing both intermediate and finished leather goods, predominantly engaging in low-value upstream activities. While this sector generates substantial employment opportunities, it also breaches numerous environmental and social standards. We have created a new subcategory for social life cycle assessment (S-LCA), ‘employment security’, to examine the social sustainability of workers in the leather supply chain of the Kolkata cluster in India.</p> Methods <p>This study adopted the S-LCA framework, adhering to UNEP guidelines (2020), to assess the social impacts of the leather supply chain. A case study approach was employed, gathering both quantitative and qualitative data from multiple stakeholders. The Subcategory Assessment Method (SAM) was applied for the impact assessment to identify social hotspots within the leather industrial gloves supply chain in Kolkata, India.</p> Results and discussion <p>The study finds that employment security, freedom of association, and collective bargaining are significantly lacking in various stages of the leather supply chain. This industry also demonstrates proactive efforts in addressing issues related to child labour and forced labour. The presence of equal opportunities varies throughout different stages of the value chain. The newly introduced subcategory of employment security offers a clear perspective, aiding in the understanding of the status of other subcategories within the context of developing nations.</p> Conclusions <p>It is necessary to establish more formal work practices, and greater attention should be given to promoting the use of safety equipment, particularly in stages like tanning. This study has identified social hotspots within the leather supply chain in India, providing valuable insights for policymakers to implement appropriate measures for improvement in the future.</p>