Cheap Labor Research Articles

Disabling labour: race, disability and Indian indentured labour on Fijian sugar plantations, 1879–1920

ABSTRACT The establishment in the1830s of the Indian indentured labour system as a cheap labour source for British sugar plantations provoked criticism from parliamentarians, missionaries and labour advocates who considered indenture the reintroduction of slavery by another name. Like slavery, the indenture system bonded into labour non-white, poor and unfree workers, already subordinated within the British empire. Like slavery, the Indian indentured labour system was structurally disabling. The development of colonial racial typologies of the ideal labourer embedded race into notions of the able bodied worker. While being of a preferred racial type was a condition of fitness to work it also exposed labourers to the disabling circumstances of being unfree labour on sugar plantations. Indenture practised in Fiji from 1879 to 1917 reflects the disabling effects of racial and economic subordination even in the late indenture period when labour conditions had improved. The development of systematic government measures to select workers as fit for the regulation of plantation labour and the disabling impacts of injury, illness, sexual and mental trauma experienced on the plantation, qualify the notion that modern western ideas of disability emerge primarily from urban industrializing environments.

МАКРОЕКОНОМІЧНИЙ АСПЕКТ НЕРІВНОМІРНОСТІ ЕКОНОМІЧНОГО ЗРОСТАННЯ

Trends in the development of the world economic system reflect the unevenness and heterogeneity of the formation of the main macroeconomic indicators of individual countries and regions at a given time. This contributes to the division of countries into economies of І, ІІ, ІІІ levels in turn. These differences were formed historically on the basis of natural-geographical, climatic, historical-cultural and socio-cultural factors and determined the emergence of the international division of labor. Using the methods of analogies, system analysis, historical analysis, chronology and synthesis, this article conducted a study to determine the causes of uneven economic development of national economies and search for options to overcome it, respectively. It has been established that natural-geographical, historical-cultural and climatic factors are not dominant in determining the causes of differences in GDP growth at a given time. This is taken into account, but is not decisive, since the economies of most countries are open compared to the middle of the 20th century. The determining factors are such factors as the availability of qualified personnel, the development of the scientific and technical complex and the possibility of external technology transfer, supported by appropriate national policies in the field of scientific, educational and technical development of the country. This approach makes it possible to significantly expand the production capabilities of a single country, as well as partially or completely move some of its production to countries with cheaper labor. An example of such a symbiosis of government policy in the field of science, education, technology and production can be the Chinese economy. But these trends are determined not so much by the presence of prerequisites for their development, but by such socio-cultural factors as the mentality of the population of a particular country. It is this factor, against the background of natural-geographical and historical-cultural features, that comes to the fore when determining the vector of economic development of a particular country.

INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF INTERESTS IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY: ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE MODERNIZATION OF THE CORPORATE SECTOR

The article summarizes the main approaches to the institutionalization of interests in the national economy, as well as the economic and legal aspects of the impact of institutionalization on the modernization of the corporate sector. The purpose of the work is to substantiate the concept of the "mechanism of institutionalization of interests" to describe the process of forming a new social order that meets the requirements of the information society. It is noted that the formation of the information society in Ukraine lags behind the leading countries of the world, which, in addition to the war, is largely connected with the low efficiency of the institutional structure of the national economy, which inhibits innovative development. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the slower institutional and cultural changes occur, the cheaper labor is. It is substantiated that the theoretical basis for solving the problem of defining the "mechanism of institutionalization of interests" is the institutional economic theory, the theory of corporate management, and the theory of economy. It is suggested that institutionalization should be understood as socio-economic processes that shape the organization of subjects, turning their interactions into an institutional system, the elements of which turn into a generally accepted practice, which is preserved in an unchanged form for a number of generations, being confirmed in the real behavior of people. It was concluded that the institutionalization of interests in the national economy provides a degree of subordination of individual interests to public interests and affects the modernization of all sectors of the national economy, including the corporate one. A peculiarity for the corporate sector is that the role of institutionalization in this sector is that it is a factor in reducing uncertainty and a basis for forecasting the behavior of business entities. At the same time, the result of the institutionalization of interests can be considered the creation of a clear institutional role structure of interests, approved by the majority of participants in socio-economic relations, in accordance with norms and rules. In this regard, it is emphasized that the mechanism of institutionalization of interests in the national economy is also related to the creation of organizations and institutions that organize the functioning of the relevant institute, management and control of its activities, which again affects the modernization of the corporate sector. Characteristic signs of institutionalization of interests in the national economy are summarized. According to the results of the generalization, it is indicated that one of the criteria for the degree of completeness of the process of institutionalization of interests can be the massive predictable behavior of the bearers of interests in accordance with institutional patterns of behavior. It was determined that the institutionalization of interests in the national economy can be studied in two contexts. First, as a historical process of birth and establishment of new institutions, which allows us to reveal the reasons and conditions for their emergence. And, secondly, as the functioning of institutions within the framework of the socio-economic system in connection with the process of adaptation of the interests of individuals, collectives, sectors, during which mechanisms are formed that ensure stability and sustainability of development. The types of mechanisms of institutionalization of coalitions of interests for the modernization of the corporate sector are systematized. Based on the results of the research, it was concluded that in the interests of the formation of the information society, a transition from strict state regulation to a policy of flexible stimulation of the development and modernization of the corporate sector of the national economy is necessary. At the same time, the state's activities should be aimed at implementing mechanisms and institutions that stimulate interest in innovation and investment in human capital, ensuring social justice and solidarity.

Rural livelihoods and land reform in South Africa: An intersectional perspective on women's lived experiences

Through racialised discrimination under colonialism and apartheid, black people in South Africa were dispossessed of their land. They were often forced into cheap labour for the new mining economic complex and industrial sector. Land dispossession was thus about economic deprivation, eradication of subsistence agriculture, and degradation of the black communities. This resulted in a racialised unequal land distribution, culminating in historical inequalities and poverty along race lines. The 1994 democratic government introduced the land reform programme. The land reform process took the form of restitution, redistribution, and tenure reform. Women were also earmarked for prioritisation and seeking to redress racial inequalities in land access and ownership. The paper utilises an intersectionality approach to explore women farmers' lived experiences of the land reform programme. The paper argues that intersectionality is suitable for exploring gender, class, and age dynamics necessary for understanding women's lived experiences. Particular attention is paid to how the women gained access to and ownership of land and the unique challenges and constraints they experienced as women of a specific class. The paper further aims to examine whether the amendment of the constitution of South Africa with the inclusion of Land Expropriation Without Compensation will help address gender, class, and age differences in land ownership. The paper draws from existing literature and secondary data on women's involvement in farming and the implementation of the land reform programme in Limpopo Province. This article contributes to the body of knowledge that explores the relationship between gender, land reform, Land Expropriation Without Compensation, and land ownership.

Reconciling industrialization and environmental protection for sustainable development in Bangladesh: The textile and apparel industry case

The textile and apparel (T&A) industry in Bangladesh has been the biggest engine for economic growth for the last three decades. Thanks to the growing contribution of T&A industry, the country has consistently achieved high economic growth, alleviated poverty, and increased per capita income. The comparative advantage of a large pool of cheap labor, easy access to power, and a high potential of creating employment opportunities turned T&A industry as the most thriving sector for Bangladesh. However, the pursuit of speedy economic growth has resulted in a large-scale and poorly planned rapid rise of textile factories and enterprises. A growing number of textile industries and their clustering in a few districts in the country are taking a heavy toll on human health, ecosystems, and the overall environment. As a result, the most productive and profitable industry has become one of the most polluting industries in the country and therefore, it is of paramount importance to address the intensifying threat of environmental degradation in a sustainable manner that balances T&A industrial growth and causes the least damage to human health and natural environment. This paper will explore the major drivers of poorly planned T&A industry in Bangladesh and their adverse impacts on human health and the environment followed by some recommendations that can improve the environmental performance of T&A industry to ensure safe growth in Bangladesh.

О прочности и развитии экономики России в 2024–2030 гг.

The article discusses the main aspects of strengthening the strength of the Russian economy and the factors influencing its development. The sources of federal budget revenues (oil and gas and non-oil and gas revenues), reserves for increasing the safety margin of the economy, including the tax reform in 2024, the growth of investment demand, and the development of the financial market are analyzed. Trends in improving the model of labor resources, staff shortages, and the labor market are predicted. The probability of expanding the scope of the “wage revolution” and reducing the role of cheap labor is considered. The validity of the new strategy of scientific and technological development in strengthening the strength of the Russian economy is substantiated.

Determinants of Loan Repayment among Women Entrepreneurs in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

The study focused on identifying the factors influencing loan repayment among women entrepreneurs in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives involved determining the socio economic characteristics of women entrepreneurs, sources of borrowing, rate of loan repayment, factors affecting loan repayment, and the importance of available loans to the respondents. The study used a simple random sampling technique to select 120 respondents. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire and personal interviews. Data analysis involved the use of simple descriptive statistical tools such as means, percentages, and frequency distributions, a 4 point Likert scale, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents were married (67%), young (58%), educated (100%), and experienced in handling financial and non financial issues (83%). Additionally, most respondents had large families that supported their enterprises through cheap labor and the supply of vital business information. The study also found that the majority of the respondents accessed their loans from formal financial institutions and had a moderate repayment rate of 54%. Significant variables influencing loan repayment among the respondents included age, operating costs, experience, income, and value of assets. Furthermore, the majority of the respondents agreed that loan availability benefitted them in expanding existing businesses, diversifying into new business lines, purchasing major inputs, and acquiring major assets. Based on these findings, the study recommended that loans should be extended to individuals with the necessary capacity to interact with formal financial institutions. Financial institutions should provide friendly and flexible policies to support loan repayment and create awareness among clients regarding the proper use of loans. Additionally, the government should consider subsidizing the price of inputs to reduce the financial burden and facilitate prompt loan repayment. These measures would ultimately stimulate the local economy, generate employment, and reduce poverty in the study area.

SETIATI SURASTO DALAM PERJUANGAN BURUH PEREMPUAN PADA 1940AN-1960AN

This research discusses the views and roles of Setiati Surasto in improving the fate of women labour between the 1940s and 1960s. This study stems from companies’ or employers’ discrimination that always considers female labour as cheap labour from time to time. Women labour were seen as unskilled workers, feasibly exploited and not appreciated. Consequently, women labour experiences discrimination in various forms, ranging from wages to violations of their rights. This study used historical research methods in which newspapers and magazines were primary sources. The findings indicate that the inequality that they experience generates women’s agency and activism. Setiati Surasto was one of the activists who voiced her views on equality and welfare for women labour through writing and direct action. This research has filled the gaps in Indonesian historiography, especially by presenting the biography of a women’s labour activist during the early period of Indonesian independence.

Factory worker welfare and the commodification of labour in market socialist Vietnam: Debates on overtime work in the revised labour code

State socialist Vietnam formally embraced market reforms in the mid-1980s, and since then advancing marketization under the undisrupted rule of the Communist party. As marketization deepens, the party state’s legitimacy continues to rest on socialist practices of governance, structures of feeling and visions of a class-free society. This political-economic context gives rise to struggles between market and socialist logics over the social question in an economy that now powers global production with raw material and cheap labour, much of which is migrant labour. This article highlights these struggles through an analysis of the public debates around the regulation of overtime work during the revision of the 1994 Labour Code by Vietnam’s National Assembly in 2019, which foresees limiting it to ensure workers’ well-being. While parties to the debate position themselves as pro-business or pro-workers, they all evoke socialist narratives of nation-building, solidarity and care while emphasizing the market ethos of competitiveness and productivity. In arguing for removing the limit, the pro-business camp highlights the workers’ responsibility to contribute to the competitiveness of the country and their employers by working overtime to make up for their low productivity. In contrast, the pro-worker camp pleads for limiting overtime work on the grounds of workers’ poor health and difficult family lives, portraying their sufferings as deserving compassion. Despite these contrasting justifications, both arguments are characterized by the assumption of self-responsibility as the mainstay of well-being and failure to acknowledge the deeper societal problems posed by the commodification of labour.

Crafting professional identities at the bottom of the knowledge economy a critical analysis of managerial discourses

ABSTRACT In the context of labour arbitrage, Romania became home to an expanding nearshoring business service sector. Many graduates work in ‘call centres’: a generic term for various types of customer-oriented services associated with different employment regimes and company structures. This research examines the discursive construction of compliance to precarious work, largely centred on managerial perspectives. Based on in-depth interviews with managers, HR staff, call-centre operators and through the thematic analysis of managerial outlets and career events, the paper unpacks several mechanisms, metaphors, and symbols that maintain young people’s adherence to the demands of work. It is argued that the repertoire of neo-liberal tropes (authenticity, personal development, growth) creates legitimacy for an (arguably) precarious sector in an emerging economy, and ultimately crafts individual­ized working narratives. The paper suggests that young employees appropriate the related structures and the master narratives, whilst lacking a solid repertoire to critically engage with them.

Management practices and cow comfort of crossbred dairy cows in youth managed dairy farm enterprises, South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Good dairy farming methods and cow comfort are essential variables in reproductive efficiency, milk output, milk quality, and dairy cow health. The purpose of this study was to look into the management techniques and cow comfort status of crossbred dairy cows in youth managed dairy farm enterprises in Ethiopia's Amhara region's South Gondar zone. All (20) youth-managed dairy farm enterprises were chosen and questioned using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, and all (204) lactation dairy cows were chosen for cow comfort assessment. The SPSS version 22 program was used to analyze the data. According to the findings, the most common feed sources used for their dairy cattle were formulated and unformulated agro-industrial byproducts followed by non-conventional and hay. Piped (35%) and bore (30%) water were the most common water sources for dairy cattle, with the majority of farms allowing free access to water. The majority of dairy farm firms (70%) uses artificial insemination as well as bull services. The majority of dairy farm enterprises (55%) had shared sheds, followed by individual sheds (45%) built with government assistance (55%), and family (30%) with the same design and construction. The challenges confronting dairy farm enterprises were ranked feed scarcity and high feed costs first, followed by a lack of access to land, a lack of access to markets, and a lack of credit, whereas the opportunities for dairy farm enterprises were ranked first increased demand for milk and milk products first, followed by rapid urbanization, rapid population growth, and the availability of cheap labor. The vast majority of cows (92%) were severely lame, followed by moderate lameness (83%) and the vast majority of cows (52.5%) had moderately injured legs, followed by severely injured legs. The udder and leg cleanliness of most cows was mid cleanliness (52.7%), as opposed to dirty (30%) and clean (17.2%) with a low cow comfort index (0.48). The mean stall length, bed length, brisket board height, neck rail height, lung space, feeder height, and feeder width were 239±16 cm, 222.7±28.3 cm, 10.5±3.6cm, 61.5±15.3 cm, 128.15±21.5 cm, 40.6±8.7 cm, and 36.7±6.9 cm, respectively. The results also revealed that the overall floor softness scored marginal (45%) softness rather than hard (30%) and normal (25%) floor softness. The majority of dairy farm enterprises (55%) did not provide bedding material for their cows and, the bedding materials include straw, hay, and sawdust. Bedding materials are renewed once a month (37.5%), twice a week (37.5%), and once a week (25%). The frequency of manure removal was twice daily (60%), three times daily (30%), and once daily (20%). The findings revealed that the cow’s comfort status is poor, so it is recommended that the barn be renovated routine management practices be improved, and assistance from the government and other relevant stakeholders is required in order to obtain credit to renovate the cow barn and improve management practices.

Labor trafficking in marijuana production: a hidden epidemic in the shadows of the cannabis industry.

Labor trafficking in marijuana production remains a concealed epidemic within the expanding cannabis industry. This abstract brings attention to the systemic exploitation of vulnerable individuals engaged in cultivating, harvesting, and processing cannabis. It explores the factors contributing to labor trafficking, including demand for cheap labor, inadequate regulation, and the vulnerability of the workforce. By compiling published cases, both in peer-reviewed literature and the media, this perspective piece investigates the extent of health issues experienced by labor-trafficked victims. These include chronic pain from repetitive tasks, respiratory problems due to exposure to pesticides and other toxic substances, musculoskeletal injuries, malnutrition, and mental health disorders stemming from trauma and extreme stress. Additionally, this perspective article examines the factors contributing to poor health outcomes of labor-trafficked victims, including hazardous working conditions, lack of access to healthcare, and physical and psychological abuse. Addressing the health challenges faced by labor-trafficked victims in the cannabis industry requires multidimensional solutions: awareness among healthcare providers, comprehensive medical services, and mental health support. Furthermore, collaborative efforts among government agencies, healthcare providers, labor organizations, and the cannabis industry are essential in preventing trafficking and addressing the health disparities faced by labor-trafficked victims.

Accessible vs Applicable Policies? A Discussion on Calculated Informality of Afghan Migrants in Turkey

This paper explores the role of calculated informality in the interplay of policies linked to Afghan migration and refuge in Turkey, particularly through the lens of their applicability to this population. Relying on a qualitative case study approach, this research utilizes legal documents, organizational reports, and academic research, supplemented by 44 semi-structured interviews with various key stakeholders in Turkey, including migrant and refugee advocates, donors, INGOs, and civil society organizations. This research finds that policies that are applicable cause informality by failing to be accessible, whether through temporal or spatial restrictions that limit access to economic opportunities, social and community integration, and state services, ultimately illegalizing this demographic. It therefore concludes that the policies and practices that apply to Afghans in Turkey form a strategy of calculated informality by the Turkish state, created through limitations of policy outreach, which maintain their presence due to their economic function as cheap labor yet manage their inflows through security practices including deportation.

The financial shape of things to come

The global financial system is undergoing its most significant change in the last four decades. A highly leveraged consumption-driven model undergirded by US fiat currency, Chinese labor arbitrage and US geopolitical primacy, is facing questions. This comes at a time when the global power balance is shifting from the West to the East at the fastest rate in the last three centuries. Economic and security risks are at a multi-decade high and manifest in economic crises and wars. The kind of equilibrium achieved by major and emerging powers after this period of transition will depend on how they derisk supply chains, re-globalize trade and mitigate conflicts

The making of a racialized surplus population

Abstract In capitalist Eastern Europe, surplus population is created at the intersection of economic restructuring, leading to the decline of jobs, the absorption of housing in broader circuits of capital accumulation, and the state's disinvestment in social housing. Drawing on the lived experiences of the impoverished Roma from Baia Mare (Maramureș county, Romania), I analyze how racialization produces them as surplus-as-laborer and surplus-as-tenant. The article explores the historically constituted labor-housing nexus. Capitalist enterprises are interested in having permanent access to a cheap and flexible labor force that reproduces in housing conditions that are as low cost as they are inadequate. Private real estate capital excludes those who cannot afford the fast-rising level of the ground rent while the post-socialist state refuses to invest in public housing.

Land and ocean grabs and the relative surplus population in Ghana

Abstract Situated in the context of the land and ocean grabs in Ghana post-2007–2008 global economic crises, this article argues that the country is experiencing “primitive accumulation” without capitalist industrialization. I draw on the insights of agrarian political economy to argue that this has created cheap laborers without industrial capital to exploit. The corollary of this is the creation of additional “relative surplus population”, worsening the country's (un)employment crisis. However, this “relative surplus population” is not marginal to global capitalist accumulation and exploitation; on the contrary, it is important to them. The article draws on ethnographic fieldwork in Ghanaian communities to document the voices of the dispossessed and semi-proletarianized about their experiences with the crisis of (re)production inflicted on them by global capitalism.

Harvesting precarity: The regimes governing migrant labor in Türkiye’s agricultural sector

Migrant labor is widely used in agricultural production in many parts of Türkiye especially during the harvesting season. This article explores the precaritization process of seasonal agricultural labor markets in Türkiye by highlighting how three regimes—migration management, labor bonding and recruitment—work simultaneously to regulate migrant labor supply. By attracting vulnerable and cheap labor of Syrian, Azeri and Georgian workers, the Turkish agricultural sector has extended its reach to the most disadvantaged groups and intensified the precaritization of the labor force. Based on empirical findings from previous fieldworks conducted between 2015 and 2019 in various agricultural sites throughout Türkiye, this paper argues that precaritization is not only a result of working conditions and job characteristics in the agricultural sector but also a consequence of these three regimes working harmoniously as they generate competition among different worker groups for existing jobs. While migration regime and restrictions on migrant labor determine migrant and refugee labor’s living and working conditions, intermediaries and ethnic ties also facilitate the integration of precarious labor into seasonal wage work. The paper provides valuable insights into the dynamics of labor exploitation in the agricultural sector in Türkiye and the need for regulatory mechanisms that protect the rights of seasonal agricultural workers.

International Migration from a Semi-Periphery City: The Case of Baia Mare

Abstract Many post-socialist cities in Romania experience population decline caused by both negative natural growth and large-scale international migration. This study seeks to advance an understanding of post-socialist migratory flows from the city of Baia Mare to Western labour markets in terms of its mode of incorporation into the global economy. Using a historical structural lens, the study traces the critical economic transformations, political moments or institutions that influenced migratory flows from Baia Mare. It argues that from its semi-peripheral position, the city’s role, after the regime change, became that of a supplier of cheap labour to Western Europe and a location for low added value industries. Despite its rapid economic growth due to reindustrialisation and its success in attracting relatively large shares of immigrants, its native urban population continues to decrease. The developing manufacturing industry specialised in intensive, low-paid, manual labour automatically excludes more educated and qualified labourers who continue to resort to international migration in order to survive or to improve the quality of their lives.

Peluang dan Tantangan Bagi Perusahaan Multinasional di Tengah Agenda MiC 2025 Tiongkok

Background: Since the economic reforms in 1978, multinational companies have begun to arrive, invest, and operate in China. This was because China had low wages, huge markets, and loose government policies. China is often associated with a negative perception as a center for cheap labor and low-quality products. The MiC 2025 agenda aims to change that negative perception. Besides, this agenda also plans to catch up with China's high-tech in the global market. This paper uses the neo-mercantilism theory, assuming that the Chinese government's initiation to accumulate state wealth by protecting the domestic market and supporting foreign investment. Through MiC 2025, the government plans to strengthen China's dominance in the global market. 
 Purpose: This paper aims to describe the influence of the MiC 2025 agenda on multinational companies (MNCs) in China.
 Methods: This research uses descriptive qualitative research methods.
 Results: The results show that MNCs receive both opportunities and challenges from the realization of the MiC 2025 agenda, which the author divides into 4 major subchapters, namely 1) economic competition, 2) collaboration and technology transfer, 3) robotization of labor, and 4) tariff war with the United States.
 Conclusion: MNCs need to adapt and restructure amidst the MiC 2025 agenda initiated by the government to operate optimally.

Platform work, exploitation, and migrant worker resistance: Evidence from Berlin and London

AbstractFor migrant workers who do not have access to other means of income, the platform economy offers a viable yet exploitative alternative to the conventional labour market. Migrant workers are used as a source of cheap labour by platforms – and yet, they are not disempowered. They are at the heart of a growing platform worker movement. Across different international contexts, migrants have played a key role in leading strikes and other forms of collective action. This article traces the struggles of migrant platform workers in Berlin and London to explore how working conditions, work experiences, and strategies for collective action are shaped at the intersection of multiple precarities along lines of employment and migration status. Combining data collected through research by the Fairwork project with participant observation and ethnography, the article argues that migrant workers are more than an exploitable resource: they are harbingers of change.