Precarious Work and Insecure Lives. De Facto Informalization in Cambodia’s Garment Factories

Bibliographic Data

ID13120211
AuthorsAnna Salmivaara (0000-0001-5929-2034, University of Helsinki, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume24
Issue1
Pages44-75
Publication date2021-04-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Labor and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2471-4607 • E-ISSN: 2667-3657
PublisherBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/24714607-20212002
OpenAlexW3190428420
LanguageEN
Citations received6

To increase understanding about the weak implementation of labour rights in global value chains, this paper examines processes of in-fact informalization that in Cambodia’s garment industry exclude workers from legal protection in a hidden yet effective manner. Informalization in contemporary global capitalism is often examined as driven by capital. This article broadens the analysis to how states and workers contribute to top-down and bottom-up processes of in-fact informalization, and emphasizes the role of workers’ collective organization. In Cambodia, subcontracting and temporary contracts prevent workers from collectively claiming their legal entitlements. In-fact informalization is promoted by the government as a strategy of indirect rule aimed at ensuring political power, and strengthened by the workers’ gendered needs and strategies of intergenerational wellbeing. Together, informal work and insecure lives discourage unionization, which further increases top-down and bottom-up informalization

Business · Capital (architecture · Capitalism · De facto · Economic growth · Economics · Government (linguistics · Informal sector · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Work (physics · Engineering · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Law · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies

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