Labour, Industry and the State in Industrialising Asia: An Overview

Two major dimensions of globalisation in most Asian countries since the 1970s have been first, structural change in their economies associated with industrialisation, and second, labour becoming closely associated with industrial work. The agrarian-rural character of most of these countries, centred on commercial agricultural and mining activities, was transformed by the emergence of large-scale enterprises located in urban areas. This transformation was consistent with two developments: the drift of labour from the country, and the increased participation of women in the manufacturing sector. Export-oriented industrialisation in most of these countries also coincided with the greater concentration and centralisation of capital by multinational corporations (MNCs) and the growth of cross-border production networks. As a result, both governments and workers became dependent on the MNCs for job-creation, especially in the free-trade zones, which functioned as global manufacturing enclaves. New forms of work arrangements also emerged in the labour-intensive manufacturing sector, such as sub-contracting and home-based work, and all of these impacted on employment conditions and the labour movement. How have women workers coped with these changing economic realities? While there is broad agreement that governments introduced labour legislation aimed at securing a modicum of welfare and security for workers, they have used their public commitment to trade liberalisation and growth to increase their arbitrary powers and to retain their countries' competitiveness.